32 nurses, most of whom graduated from Mangaluru, rescued at airport from ‘trafficker’

News Network

November 28, 2018

Bengaluru, 28: As many as 32 women – all nursing graduates from Kerala – were prevented by the authorities at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru from becoming the victims of a human trafficking racket.

The nurses, most of whom had studied in different nursing colleges in coastal city of Mangaluru, had thought that they were on their way to pursue a short-term course to learn German at University of Traditional Medicine of Armenia (UTMA).

Kala Krishnaswamy, deputy commissioner of police (northeast division), said police registered a case of attempted human trafficking based on a complaint from KIA immigration officials and arrested Tony Tom, who was taking the women to Armenia.

A native of Kerala, Tom runs an education consultancy called Hopesyn Education International at Kankanady area of Mangaluru.

The police officer said Tom through his consultancy offered to facilitate the study at UTMA. Tom was accompanying the women who came to the airport on Monday night to catch a flight for Armenia around 4am on Tuesday. Immigration officials suspected foul play as they doubted the very existence of such a course in the university. They handed over the accused and the women to BIAL police for investigation.

Police said the women found a newspaper ad about the course and contacted Tom’s agency in Mangaluru. The institute assured nursing students jobs in reputed hospitals abroad if they could speak German and they signed up for the German course at UTMA.

Kala said each woman paid Rs 30,000 towards air ticket and visa procedures and $1,200 as course fee to Tony Tom. “We’re not sure what he would have done with the girls in Armenia if there’s no such course at UTMA. We booked him for attempted human trafficking and arrested him,” the DCP said.

BIAL police recorded the statements of all 32 women. They told police Tom had promised them return tickets from Armenia and that the course would be over in two months.

Police sources said immigration officials suspect it’s a human trafficking case as UTMA is a medical science university and students were being taken for a German-language course. BIAL police said they’re verifying Tom’s antecedents.

Comments

GOvt action should needed. Arrest that middleman who helps from India

Many people being victims of such fraudulent organisaction trap by believing newspaper ads. People usually thinks that news paper wont carry fraudulent things. Reality is news paper cant check the ads giving company's integrity

Govt organisation should needed for the enquiries of abroad education

educated people also may fell in trap. Its depends on the situation. Most of the people in a an urgent situation wont think negatively

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PM Modi vows to strengthen India-Maldives ties, inks currency swap deal with President Muizzu

News Network

October 7,2024

New Delhi: Seeking to strengthen bilateral ties, India and the Maldives on Monday inked a currency swap agreement to the tune of $400 million, a move that would help the archipelago nation overcome foreign exchange reserve issues.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu also launched Rupay card in the Maldives, inaugurated the new runway at the Hanimadhoo International airport and agreed to further strengthen bilateral relations that had hit a rocky patch last year.

Muizzu, who is on a four-day state visit, held talks with Prime Minister Modi at the Hyderabad House here.

After the talks, India also handed over 700 social housing units to the Maldives built under the EXIM Bank’s buyer’s credit facilities.

"Today, we have inaugurated the redeveloped Hanimaadhoo Airport. Now, the Greater Male Connectivity Project will also be expedited. We will also support the development of a new commercial port in Thilafushi," Modi told reporters here with Muizzu by his side.

Modi said India and Maldives have decided to initiate discussion on the Free Trade Agreement to further strengthen economic ties.

The prime minister described Maldives as a "close friend" which had an important position in India's neighbourhood policy and SAGAR vision.

"India has always fulfilled the responsibilities of a neighbour. Today, we have taken up the vision of a comprehensive economic and maritime security partnership to give our mutual cooperation a strategic direction," Modi said.

Earlier, Muizzu was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhawan by President Droupadi Murmu. Prime Minister Modi was also present on the occasion.

Muizzu was given a tri-services guard of honour before he drove down the Rajghat to offer his respects at the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.

The ties between India and the Maldives came under severe strain since Muizzu, known for his pro-China leanings, took charge of the top office in November.

Muizzu won the presidential election last year on the 'India out' campaign and asked New Delhi to withdraw its military personnel posted in the archipelago nation by May this year.

The bilateral ties also hit a rocky patch when Maldivian ministers were critical of Modi. However, Muizzu has since toned down his anti-India stance and even sacked ministers who were critical of the Indian prime minister.

As the Maldives was grappling with a serious economic downturn, India has decided to extend vital budgetary support to the Maldives government with the rollover of a $50 million Treasury Bill for another year.

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