Kerala's Nedumbassery airport under international human trafficking scanner

The Kerala government today said a probe by the Intelligence Bureau and State DGP would be held into the incidents of human trafficking through the International Airport at Nedumbassery in Kochi.

The IB, which took charge of security clearance and emigration procedures of passengers at airports in the state from March, has been asked to probe the issue.

Similarly, State DGP K S Balasubramaniyam would probe the matter during the period when the airports were under the control of state police till the IB took over, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said in the state assembly.

He was replying to a notice for an adjournment motion on the matter moved by the CPI-M-led LDF Opposition.

The DGP has been asked to file a report within two weeks, Chandy said and assured the House that government would strengthen measures to avoid such incidents in future.

State Home Minister Thiruvanachoor Radhakrishnan said the state had sought the permission of Centre to set up police stations at airports to effectively check this menace.

Police constable Ajeeb, allegedly involved in the incidents, has been suspended, he said, adding "all persons found responsible for the act would be brought to justice.

" Seeking notice for the motion, P Sreeramakrishnan (CPI-M) alleged that in the last one year nearly 10,000 people, including many women, had travelled abroad, illegally through the airports at Kochi and Karipoor in Kozhikode.

"Mostly it is hapless women and unskilled labourers seeking jobs abroad, who fall victims to the human trafficking racket," he said.

He alleged that reports suggested that even people with terrorist links from the country and from Sri Lanka used the airports to go outside the country.

"It is a matter that affects the security of the nation," he said.

After Radhakrishnan's reply, Speaker G Karthikeyan disallowed the motion.

The matter came to light recently after it was reported in the media that an internal inquiry by the Emigration department revealed that there were several instances of illegal transportation of people from different countries and also Indians.

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