Indian passports for SL refugees: six policemen among 26 arrested

Three Sri Lankan refugees are among 26 persons arrested so far by Indian law enforcement authorities probing illegal issuance of Indian passports to foreigners.

According to the Indian media, the Crime Investigation Department launched the investigation in January this year. The latest arrests were made on Saturday when the CID took two Sri Lankans and an Indian who provided them passports.

The media quoted CID officials as having said that the Sri Lankans, identified as Varuniya Thiruvanavukkarasu and Sanjika, were arrested along with Priya Dharmalingam from Tamil Nadu.

“Priya acted as a mediator and facilitated 21 Sri Lankan nationals in obtaining Indian passports in connivance with passport agents,” police said. Among the arrested persons were 16 agents, six policemen, an employee of passport Seva Kendra and three Sri Lankan nationals.