External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed shock on Friday after a family of four Indian nationals, including an infant, died along the US-Canada border in what authorities believe was a failed crossing attempt during a freezing blizzard of -35 digree, and directed Indian ambassadors in the US and Canada to respond immediately.
The bodies of four people – two adults, a teen, and an infant – were discovered on the Canadian side of the US-Canada border near Emerson on Wednesday, according to the Manitoba Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
“I am shocked to learn that four Indian nationals, including an infant, have died at the Canada-US border.” I have asked our ambassadors in the United States and Canada to respond as soon as possible. to the situation,” Jaishankar tweeted.
Jaishankar spoke with Taranjit Singh Sandhu, India’s Ambassador to the United States, and Ajay Bisaria, India’s High Commissioner in Canada.
Ambassador Sandhu described the incident as unfortunate and tragic.
“We are in contact with US authorities regarding the ongoing investigation. A consular team from @IndiainChicago is travelling to Minnesota today to coordinate and provide any necessary assistance “He tweeted about it.
Bisaria, India’s High Commissioner in Canada, described the incident as “heartbreaking.” An Indian consular team is travelling to Manitoba today from @IndiainToronto to coordinate and assist, he tweeted.
“We will collaborate with Canadian authorities to investigate these troubling events,” he wrote.
According to court documents, on Wednesday, US Border Patrol (USBP) agents in North Dakota stopped a 15-passenger van just south of the Canadian border.
The driver was identified as 47-year-old Steve Shand of Florida, who was arrested and charged with human smuggling in connection with the incident, according to a release issued late Thursday afternoon by the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota.
According to the Department of Justice, law enforcement officials determined that there were two undocumented Indian nationals.
According to court documents, law enforcement officers discovered cases of plastic cups, bottled water, bottled juice, and snacks in the passenger van’s extreme rear.
They also discovered receipts for the drinks and snacks dated January 18, 2022, as well as rental agreement receipts in Shand’s name for the van, with a return date of January 20, 2022.
Officers came across another group of five Indian nationals walking as they were returning the trio to the border patrol station in North Dakota.
They explained that they had walked across the border and were expecting to be picked up by someone.
The group estimated they had been walking for more than 11 hours and appeared to be on their way to an unstaffed gas plant in St. Vincent, Minnesota.
One of the members of the group was carrying a backpack that did not belong to him.
He told authorities that he was transporting a backpack for a family of four Indian nationals who had previously walked with his group but became separated at night.
The backpack contained children’s clothes, a diaper, toys, and some medication for the children.
According to court documents, the USBP received a report from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on January 19 that four bodies had been discovered frozen just inside the Canadian side of the international border.
The bodies were tentatively identified as belonging to a family of four who had become separated.
Two of the surviving Indian nationals were seriously injured and were taken to the hospital.
Shand is charged with one count of knowing or recklessly disregarding the fact that a foreign national had come to, entered, or remained in the United States in violation of law, as well as transporting, moving, or attempting to transport such nationals.
He appeared in front of US District Court Magistrate Judge Hildy Bowbeer for the first time today.
Shand was ordered to remain in custody pending a preliminary inquiry and detention hearing on January 24, which is currently scheduled.
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