Updated 14 December 2025 at 12:54 IST
Gujarat Couple, 3 Year Old Daughter Kidnapped in Libya While Attempting to Migrate to Portugal; Rs 2 Crore Ransom Demanded
A family from Mehsana, Gujarat, was kidnapped in Libya while attempting to migrate to Portugal, with abductors demanding a ransom of ₹2 crore. Authorities are coordinating efforts for their safe return.
New Delhi: A couple from Gujarat’s Mehsana district and their three-year-old daughter were allegedly kidnapped in Libya while attempting to migrate to Portugal, with the abductors demanding a ransom of ₹2 crore, officials said on Saturday.
The victims have been identified as Kismatsinh Chavda, his wife Heenaben, and their daughter Devanshi, residents of Badalpura village in Mehsana district. The family was reportedly travelling through Libya en route to Portugal, where Chavda’s brother is settled.
Mehsana Superintendent of Police Himanshu Solanki said the kidnapping took place in the North African nation of Libya, which borders the Mediterranean Sea. He confirmed that the family was travelling with the assistance of a Portugal-based agent, with the intention of settling permanently in the European country.
According to police, the family left India on November 29, flying from Ahmedabad to Dubai. From Dubai, they were taken to Benghazi city in Libya. It was there that they were allegedly kidnapped, Solanki said.
“Chavda’s brother is settled in Portugal, and the family was travelling with the help of an agent based in Portugal. Their intention was to settle there. The agents involved in this case are not Indian nationals”, Solanki said.
Officials said that after the abduction, the kidnappers contacted the family’s relatives in Mehsana district and demanded a ransom of ₹2 crore for the release of the couple and their child.
Mehsana Collector S.K. Prajapati said the family’s relatives approached him on Friday, December 13, 2025, seeking urgent assistance. Following this, the district administration informed the Gujarat state government about the incident.
“The matter has also been brought to the notice of the Ministry of External Affairs”, Prajapati said, adding that necessary steps are being taken at the official level.
Authorities said the case is being coordinated with higher agencies, given that the incident involves Indian nationals stranded abroad. Further details are awaited as officials continue efforts to trace the family and facilitate their safe return.
Published By : Melvin Narayan
Published On: 14 December 2025 at 10:31 IST