Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Jun 11: “As many as 38 Sri Lankan nationals have been detained over illegal stay in the country under Mangaluru south police station limits on Friday June 11,” informed police commissioner N Shashi Kumar.
Addressing media here on Friday June 11, he said, “Thirty-eight Sri Lankans had entered Tamil Nadu illegally from Sri Lanka and reached Mangaluru a month ago. They stayed at two lodges and two houses for the last one and half month claiming themselves to be daily wage and coolie workers and fisherman from Tamil Nadu.
“They left from Sri Lanka on March 17 by paying 6 to 10 lac Sri Lankan rupees to an agent in Sri Lanka. He had promised them jobs in Canada. They reached Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi through boat. After reaching Thoothukudi, their plan was to reach the nearest port and travel via private boats and cargo ships to Canada. But due to elections in Tamil Nadu and heavy presence of police, they were moved to Mangaluru for a while. From Tamil Nadu, they travelled in private buses to Bengaluru in small groups where there was an agent in Bengaluru as well. From Bengaluru, they reached Mangaluru.
“There were 39 Sri Lankans in which 38 are detained. One person aged around 65-70 years has returned back few weeks ago. We will trace him as well. We have filed a case under IPC human trafficking, cheating, Passport Act 1967, Foreigners Act 1945 and Foreigners Order 1948. We will probe into the case deeply to trace the coordinators, who helped them in giving shelter and part of a larger conspiracy.
“Mangaluru has been shelter to many from other states and countries for purpose of jobs and education. If anyone is found suspiciously moving, citizens can inform police. In case people fail to produce proper documents in hotels and lodge, police can be informed.
“Tamil Nadu police is already probing the case and they have detained 40 people. We have also detained 6-7 people for interrogation.
“There is an organized racket in Tamil Nadu where people are promised jobs in Canada. We will investigate deeply as there has to be someone who coordinated in Mangaluru as well. It is impossible for 38 Sri Lankans to stay in Mangaluru for a month without any network or coordination,” he said.
DCP Law and Order Hariram Shankar, ACP north Ranjith and others were present.