Kochi: The intelligence agencies have received vital information about a criminal gang that was instrumental in bringing a group of refugees to Munambam for trafficking to Australia in a fishing vessel. They also suspect the gang must have extorted money from the people under the pretext of taking them to Australian coast. The criminal background of a few people who visited the refugees during their stay at Cherai supports their conclusion.
The police have zeroed in on the racket that thrives on Sri Lankan refugees living in the slums of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. The fraudsters took money from the people by promising them jobs in countries such as Australia, Malaysia and Korea. The intelligence sleuths have received evidence of the racketeers supplying forged documents to the refugees after taking them to Delhi.
Such refugees are desperate to come out of the Indian camps and obtain jobs in a foreign country, but get duped in a big way. Human trafficking agencies dealing with Sri Lankan migrants are rife in Tamil Nadu. They manage to procure travel documents by submitting fake ID proofs and thus the refugees fly out to foreign countries.
The 'sleeping cells' of the proscribed LTTE play a major role in human trafficking in order to guarantee a secure life for its sympathisers.
A single boat might have been too small to carry the entire team that arrived at Munambam harbour. Hence, it could be assumed more boats were used to transport the refugees if they left the Kerala shores by Sunday dawn itself. However, efforts to locate the vessel went in vain. There are reports that the boat used for human trafficking was purchased after paying a hefty price.
The police are doubtful whether the group has reached its overseas destination. Had they departed on boats, there is all likelihood for the Coast Guard or Navy to trace them as they would not have covered a safe distance. The travel bags might have been abandoned as the group had to shift to some other locations after they dropped their travel plans.
Cherai resorts sealed
The police have sealed six resorts where the group stayed at Cherai, on Kochi coast, for detailed examination. Around 45 people have stayed in the homestays and resorts at Cherai. According to eyewitness accounts, the refugee team that left the resorts around midnight was perturbed and the women were in tears. There is evidence that a baby and a child in the group were treated at a private hospital at Kuzhipilly, and the team asked medicines for a month, said hospital authorities.
It has also come to light that the voyagers had stayed at various hotels at Kodungalloor in Thrissur district before commencing their long trip on boats from Munambam.
Police said Tamils Sreekanthan, 30, and Selvam, 45, had stayed at Hotel Indraprastham at East Nada, along with two women. The group had furnished ID proofs to book rooms, said hotel authorities.
They had earlier visited the hotel five times between November 28 and December 28. "They told us they are here to visit temples," said the hotel authorities. Police have taken relevant details from hotel.
Sreekanthan is the co-owner of 'Dayamatha', the fishing vessel which was used for human trafficking. Police raided his house at Venganoor in Kovalam. Sreekanthan, a native of Thakkala in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu, has been staying at Paruthi Vila, near Venganoor, along with an elderly woman and a 10-year-old boy for more than three years.
Another batch of 15 people comprising women and children stayed at Hotel Vanchinad at Kodungalloor for two days. This group, which was led by Thiruvananthapuram native Sreemani of Uthodathu Nagar, Kakkavu, had reached the hotel on January 7 and booked three rooms by producing passports and other documents. They checked out after two days, a probe revealed.
Role of Thiruvananthapuram residents
The police are also probing the role of Thiruvanathapuram natives in the human trafficking case. Sreekanthan had told his neighbours that he was gearing up for a long journey and would return only after two months.
The local residents said the family left the place on the night of January 7 with a heavy luggage. The neighbours have said over 10 Tamil speaking people were with Sreekanthan.
It is believed Sreekanthan had transferred to co-owner Anil Kumar, a part of investment for the boat on the same day.
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