Lok Sabha Question No. 1633 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-11
Subject: Death of Indian Family near US-Canada Border
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Bidyut Baran Mahato, Ravi Kishan Shukla, Ravindra Kushawaha, Shrirang Appa Barne, Manoj Kumar Tiwari, Sambhajirao Mane Dhairyasheel, Sanjay Sadashivrao Mandlik, Prataprao  Jadhav, Sudheer Gupta

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1633 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2022

## DEATH OF INDIAN FAMILY NEAR US-CANADA BORDER

## 1633. SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO: SHRI RAVI KISHAN: SHRI RAVINDRA KUSHWAHA: SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE: SHRI MANOJ TIWARI: SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE: SHRI SANJAY SADASHIVRAO MANDLIK: SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV: SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

Will the Minister of External Affairs be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the death of four Indians including an infant on Canadian side of the US-Canada border due to freezing cold conditions;
- (b) if   so,   the  details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the response of the Government in this regard;
- (c) whether   the   Government   has   held   any   talks   with   the   US   and Canadian authorities in this regard and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government is aware of organised human trafficking syndicates to foreign countries particularly Europe, US and Canada and if so, the details in this regard; and
- (e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to prevent human trafficking and punish people involved therein?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]

(a) to (e) Four Indian nationals, who belonged to one family, lost their lives near the Canada-U.S.A. border in Manitoba province of Canada on 19 January 2022. The Canadian authorities have informed that based on the circumstances, the death of four persons has been determined to be consistent with exposure to the outdoor elements.

Our   High   Commission   in   Ottawa   and   Consulate   in   T oronto   are providing consular services to the family of the deceased. Our Missions and Consulates in U.S.A and Canada are in regular contact with the relevant Government authorities on the matter.

People-to-people ties are an important aspect of India's bilateral relations with Canada and U.S.A. India has regular consular dialogues with both countries during which issues related to migration and welfare of citizens in each other's territories are also discussed.

For  strengthening   the   law   enforcement   response   against   human trafficking, the Ministry of Home Affairs has provided financial assistance to all States and Union Territories (UT s) for setting up and strengthening Anti Human Trafficking Units, for sensitizing police and judicial officers, and   issuing   advisories   and   guidelines   to   States/UT s   and   other stakeholders.

The National Investigation Agency Act, 2008 has also been amended in   2019   to   authorise   the   National   Investigation   Agency   to   investigate cases of human trafficking under Sections 370 and 370A of Indian Penal Code, having inter-state and international ramifications.

For addressing transnational issues of human trafficking, bilateral Memoranda of Understanding have been signed with Bangladesh, UAE, Cambodia and Myanmar.

India   has   also   ratified   the   United   Nations   Convention   on Transnational Organised Crime (UNCTOC) which has as one of its Protocols Prevention,   Suspension   and   Punishment   of   Trafficking   in   Persons, particularly Women and Children.

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