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AHMEDABAD: A US court on Wednesday sentenced Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, a resident of Dingucha village in Gujarat, to 10 years in prison for his role in a human smuggling operation that led to the deaths of four Indian migrants in 2022.
The victims were also from Dingucha.Patel was convicted in a Minnesota federal court last November. On Wednesday, the judge handed him a 10-year sentence for organizing an illegal border crossing that ended in the deaths of Jagdish Patel (39), his wife Vaishaliben, their 11-year-old daughter Vihangi, and 3-year-old son Dharmik. The family froze to death while attempting to walk from Canada into the US in extreme winter conditions.The incident occurred on January 19, 2022. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police found the bodies just north of the US-Canada border near Manitoba. The family had travelled to Canada on a tourist visa, hoping to cross into the US for better opportunities.Prosecutors said Patel, who used the alias “Dirty Harry,” and US citizen Steve Shand, were part of a smuggling network that facilitated illegal crossings for Indian nationals.
The victims were not related to the accused, though they shared the same surname.According to court records, Patel remained silent during sentencing and showed no emotion. He is likely to be deported to India after completing his prison term. His lawyer claimed he played a minor role, but prosecutors argued he exploited people’s hopes for personal gain.Seven others in the same group survived the crossing, though some suffered severe frostbite.
Prosecutors noted the group was poorly dressed for the harsh weather, relying only on what the smugglers provided.The case has drawn widespread attention in Gujarat, especially in Dingucha, where many families have sent members abroad in search of better lives — sometimes through illegal routes.The US judge called the deaths “avoidable” and highlighted the dangers of such smuggling operations.
English (US)