Kerala: Probe into suspected illegal migration

The Kerala police have launched a probe into suspected illegal migration through the coastal area of the rural parts of Ernakulam district in central Kerala.

Eight bags containing dresses, medicines and some used flight tickets found abandoned in the coastal area of Munamban on Sunday had triggered the suspicion of illegal migration. Prima facie the police suspect that a group of over 40 persons were involved.

Ernakulam rural district police chief Rahul R Nair told Deccan Herald that so far there was no evidence to confirm any illegal migration or human trafficking. "We received some information and materials, which need to be probed into. At this stage, we can't either confirm or deny that any human trafficking took place or not," he said.

There were unconfirmed reports that a group of over 40 persons, comprising women and children, set off from the coast to Australia in a boat purchased from Munambam for illegal migration. The group also comprised on Sri Lankan refugees.

Several years back the police had foiled a couple of bids by big groups of over 100 persons, including Sri Lankan refugees, to illegally migrate to Australia from coastal areas of Kollam district.