The changes state that any conventional attack on Russia, aided by a nuclear power, could be considered to be a joint attack
world3 days ago
Police in India said on Friday they were working to track down the kingpins of a people smuggling ring uncovered when French authorities halted a planeload of passengers bound for Nicaragua.
The Airbus A340 was detained last week at Vatry airport, east of Paris, where it had stopped for refuelling. It was halted after an anonymous tip-off that it was carrying potential victims of human trafficking, with most of the 303 people aboard flown back to India on Monday.
Passengers had paid "four million to 12.5 million rupees" ($48,000-150,000) to agents to help them reach the southern border of the United States from South America, Gujarat state police superintendent Sanjay Kharat told AFP.
"We want to know how these people came in contact with the agents, or whether the agents contacted them, and what their plan was after reaching Nicaragua," he said.
Of the 276 passengers returned to India, Kharat said 66 were from his state, and police were in the process of interrogating them. "We have identified people who could give us some information into the illegal racket and they are being questioned," he said.
Most of the flight's other passengers were from Punjab state in India's north, where police said they were also conducting a probe. "We are duty-bound to investigate if any illegalities are brought to our notice and we are examining the issue," senior Punjab police official L.K. Yadav told AFP.
Another Punjab police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said officers were trying to understand the scale of the racket and its links to local immigration agents.
The flight was operated by Romanian charter company Legend Airlines, and passengers were put up at Vatry airport during the investigation. Among those staying behind in France were two people questioned by police there over suspected human trafficking.
A French judicial source said they were released after it was established the passengers had boarded the plane of their own free will.
Another 25 passengers, including five minors, sought asylum in France.
French authorities are continuing to investigate the case for a potential violation of immigration laws but no longer for people trafficking, judicial sources said.
Close to 100,000 illegal Indian migrants have attempted to enter the United States this year, according to US Customs and Border Protection data.
ALSO READ:
The changes state that any conventional attack on Russia, aided by a nuclear power, could be considered to be a joint attack
world3 days ago
The country launched a probe in March 2021 into WhatsApp's privacy policy, which allowed data sharing with Facebook and its units, sparking global backlash
world4 days ago
This time around, Trump wants the Senate to give up that gatekeeping role and allow him to make 'recess appointments'
world4 days ago
Police allege the offences took place between 2001 and 2019 against 8 victims; the youngest was 17 at the time of the offence
world4 days ago
The two countries have a mutual defence treaty dating back to 1951, which could be invoked if either side came under attack, including in the South China Sea
world4 days ago
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu conferred the Grand Commander of the Order of Niger on Narendra Modi in Abuja on Sunday
world5 days ago
The titleholder's winning answer focused on using each individual's strengths
world5 days ago
The suspects would be interrogated jointly with the Shin Bet internal security agency, police said
world5 days ago