Six Gujaratis rescued from freezing river on Canada-US border

The American dream of a Gujarat family of four had frozen with their bodies on the Canada border on January 16, and it emerged on Sunday that six Gujaratis' US aspirations nearly drowned them in frigid waters while they attempted a similar illegal entry.

Gujarat Police said on Sunday that the people smuggler from Dingucha in Gandhinagar who had organized the itinerary of the family of four was also behind the latest human trafficking operation.

As for the six, they were rescued by US and Canadian agencies on May 5. Another man, a US citizen, was part of the group. 

The boat carrying the seven began sinking in the icy St Regis river.

According to sources in Gujarat Police, the six rescued Gujaratis are N A Patel, D H Patel, N E Patel, U Patel, S Patel, and D A Patel. "They are aged between 19 and 21, hail from a North Gujarat district, probably Mehsana, and went Canada in April on student visas," a source said. The seventh person rescued was reportedly an illegal immigration agent.

Citing information crosschecked with Gujarat Police and other law enforcement agencies, the source said: "Bharat Patel alias Bobby along with his two accomplices, Bharagav Patel and Ankit Patel, had sent these boys to Canada."