New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has apprehended a 39-year-old man in connection with a Sri Lankan human trafficking case, said officials on Sunday. The Absconder Tracking Team (ATT) of the NIA apprehended Mohamed Imran Khan alias Haja Najerbheeden, from his undisclosed location in the Theni district of Tamil Nadu.
Khan is a notorious smuggler
Khan, who is a key figure in the case, had been absconding since June 2021. Bengaluru's ATT regularly monitored his movements over the past several months, following which he was apprehended.
Imran Khan, a resident of Ramanathapuram in Tamil Nadu, is a notorious smuggler with a long-standing history of illegal activities in the region. He was a fugitive wanted by multiple law enforcement agencies for his involvement in various illicit operations.
38 Sri Lankan nationals arrested in Mangalore
The case originated when the Mangalore South Police acted on credible intelligence, revealing that a group of Sri Lankan nationals had arrived and taken residence in Mangalore without possessing valid documents. This operation led to the arrest of 38 Sri Lankan nationals on June 6, 2021, from Mangalore.
Further investigations revealed that Sri Lankan nationals were brought to Mangalore from Sri Lanka via Tamil Nadu and Bengaluru. Recognising the international dimensions of the case, the NIA intervened and re-registered the case.
Khan devised a plan to illegally transport 38 Sri Lankan nationals
According to NIA, during the probe, it was revealed that Imran Khan, in collaboration with Eesan, a Sri Lankan national formerly associated with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), devised a plan to illegally transport 38 Sri Lankan nationals to various locations within Tamil Nadu. They lured these individuals with false promises, including the prospect of obtaining legitimate documentation for emigration to Canada and securing employment opportunities.
Imran Khan, along with other co-accused, trafficked these Sri Lankan nationals to various locations in Bengaluru and Mangaluru. As per investigations, Imran Khan is a pivotal figure in a broader conspiracy involving international human trafficking. He acted as the main conduit responsible for transporting Sri Lankan nationals from their home country to India and subsequently to other nations, the official added.
The NIA had filed a preliminary charge sheet against five Indian accused individuals in this case, namely Dhinakaran alias Ayya, Kasi Viswanathan, Rasool, Satham Ushen, and Abdul Muheetu on October 5, 2021. The NIA has till date arraigned a total of 13 accused in the case by the NIA.
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