(Tamil Nadu), Oct 23: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday apprehended an accused Mohamed Imran Khan alias Haja Najerbheeden (39), in the Sri Lankan Human Trafficking case.
The NIA in a press release on Sunday said Imran Khan, a key accused in the case, had been on the run since June 2021.
The Absconder Tracking Team (ATT), NIA Bengaluru, monitored his movements over the past several months, leading to his capture from his undisclosed location in Theni district of Tamil Nadu.
During preliminary investigations, accused Imran Khan, a resident of Ramanathapuram was revealed as 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.
The instant 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.
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.
It has been revealed that Imran Khan, in collaboration with a Sri Lankan national, Eesan, formerly associated with the banned Tamil militant group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), devised a plan to illegally transport 38 Sri Lankan nationals from their home country 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. The accused Imran Khan, along with other co-accused, trafficked Sri Lankan nationals to various locations in Bengaluru and Mangaluru.
Investigations revealed that 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.
NIA had filed a preliminary Charge Sheet against five Indian accused individuals in this case, namely Dhinakaran alias Ayya, Kasi Viswanathan, Rasool, Sadham Hussain, and Abdul Muheetu, on October 5, 2021.
A total of 13 suspects have been arraigned in the case by the NIA so far. Investigations in this case remain open, the release added.
