Digital Desk: A family of four Indian nationals discovered frozen to death near the Canada-US border has been identified, Canadian authorities said.
The Canadian authorities claim that the family had travelled to the country before being transported to the border by someone in a case of human smuggling.
On January 19, Manitoba Royal Canadian Mounted Police discovered Jagdish Baldevbhai Patel, 39, Vaishaliben Jagdishkumar Patel, 37, Vihangi Jagdishkumar Patel, 11, and Dharmik Jagdishkumar Patel, 3, all from the same family, died near Emerson, Manitoba, just 12 metres from the US-Canada border.
Reportedly, the family was from Kalol, Gujarat’s Dingucha village.
Authorities had earlier stated that the family consisted of an adult man, an adult female, a teen male, and a baby. However, it has now been revealed that one of the victims was a little girl, not an adolescent boy.
Canadian police confirmed the victims’ identities, and autopsies were conducted on January 26.
According to a statement released by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on Thursday, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Manitoba has confirmed that the cause of death was exposure o the outdoor elements.
According to India’s High Commission in Ottawa, Canada, the next of kin of the deceased have been informed, which also identified the four victims.
The Indian Consulate General in Toronto is in contact with the deceased’s family and is providing all consular assistance.
“The High Commission expresses its heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families and friends.” it stated.
According to the Indian High Commission’s press statement, Canadian officials have also notified that, based on the circumstances, all of the people’s deaths have been assessed to be compatible with exposure to the external elements.
According to the RCMP, the Patel family arrived in Toronto on January 12, 2022, and then traveled to Emerson around January 18.
“On the Canadian side of the border, there was no abandoned vehicle. This suggests that the family was driven to the border and then abandoned. Police are trying to figure out how they got from Toronto to Emerson.” said RCMP.
“Based on what we know so far about their operations in Canada and their detention in the United States, we believe this is a case of human smuggling.” it added.
“The Patel family reportedly moved around Canada over some time, and we are looking for anyone who may have had encounters with them.” said the RCMP.
Last Monday, a criminal complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota against Steve Shand, a 47-year-old US citizen accused of human smuggling.
On January 19, American officials apprehended Shand, a suspected smuggler of unauthorized foreign people near the US-Canadian border, carrying two Indian nationals who were illegally present in the US.
In the complaint, the two Indian nationals are referred to as ‘SP’ and ‘YP’. Around the time of Shand’s arrest, a group of five Indian nationals “illegally present in the United States” were also identified and arrested.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police had reported that the day when the bodies of the Patel family had been discovered frozen just inside the Canadian side of the international border, Shand was arrested was also arrested on the same day. However, Shand was freed from prison on a conditional basis without paying a bond.
Following the discovery of the bodies, the Manitoba RCMP, including officers from the Emerson RCMP Detachment, the Integrated Border Enforcement Team (IBET), and Major Crime Services, launched an extensive investigation in collaboration with US Customs and Border Protection and the US Department of Homeland Security, according to reports.
In the inquiry of the incident, the Indian High Commission and India’s Consulate in Toronto are cooperating fully with Canadian authorities.
According to the High Commission, a special team from the Consulate General of India in Toronto, led by a senior consular officer, is camping in Manitoba to help ongoing investigations by Canadian agencies and to provide consular services for the victims.
According to the High Commission, the tragedy has brought to light the importance of safe and legal movement, as Canada is a popular destination for Indian immigrants and students.
“Number of suggestions are still pending to discussed between India and Canada about the need to guarantee that migration and movement are made safe and legal and that such tragedies do not recur.” the High Commission said.
Reportedly, India has proposed a comprehensive Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement (MMPA) to Canada to prevent and suppress irregular migration, migrant smuggling, and human trafficking and to facilitate sustainable and circular mobility. However, the Canadian government is still evaluating it.
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