Two weeks ago, two Sri Lankans in Mangalore were detained after they were found to be in possession of fake credit cards.
Initially, the police suspected them of having links with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. However, investigations revealed that the duo had stayed back to procure fake passports, so that they could travel abroad.
The duo told Crime Branch sleuths that they attempted forging documents to obtain fake passports, as it was virtually impossible for them to travel abroad from Sri Lanka.
This is why many young Sri Lankans stay back in India and then fly to different destinations in search of jobs.
The two youths were encouraged to travel to India by their parents, who feared for their lives. The duo told investigators that they lived under constant threat from both the LTTE and the Sri Lankan Army.
They said that the LTTE and the Sri Lankan army forced the youths to participate in operations. Their parents felt that the youths would get killed in the clashes if they stayed back in Sri Lanka, so the best escape route was to move illegally to India.
These youths thought that India was a relatively safer destination, as the laws are not too stringent over here. Investigations further revealed that one Kumar, a resident of Bangalore, arranges fake passports for these youths and sends them to different companies for odd jobs.
Once the youths manage to travel abroad, their family members illegally move into India. This fact came to light when the police apprehended five Sri Lankans, who had come to Bangalore to meet their relatives.
During the probe, the police found out that several Sri Lankans, who had illegally moved to India, had then traveled to London, the Middle East, Paris and European cities.
Intelligence Bureau officials say that every month, at least five Sri Lankans illegally sneak into India. They slip into Mangalore via the port and then travel to Bangalore.
And even if the police step up their vigil against these illegal immigrants, these Sri Lankan youths will find a way to sneak into the country, as they live under desperate conditions.
The police cannot give an estimate of the total number of Sri Lankans living illegally in India, but unofficial figures suggest that it may be over 1,000 . Over the past three years, at least 3,000 Sri Lankans have managed to obtain fake passports and travel to other countries from India.
