(a) whether the Government’s attention has been drawn to the incident regarding a boat that sailed with 243 migrants and went missing;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether there is a well-coordinated operation to smuggle out men, women and children, particularly Sri Lankan Tamils settled in Delhi to unknown foreign countries; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the measures being taken to check such illegal migration of the people through Indian ports/ harbours?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]
(a) & (b) As per the information made available by the Ministry of Home Affairs, around 105 persons, sailed out of Munambam Harbour in Kerala, on 12.01.2019, on a fishing boat named ‘Daya Matha-2’.
The Indian Coast Guard launched an intensive search operation to locate the boat using ships, hovercraft and aircraft. Information related
to the case has been shared with the Interpol and other agencies in order to locate the missing boat and its occupants. No information about the whereabouts of the boat has been received as yet.
(c)& (d) The Government remains strongly committed to ensuring a legal, safe, orderly and humane migration process, and continues to take necessary measures to prevent and curb any form of illegal migration. In the instant case, criminal cases have been registered by Kerala Police under Sections 468, 471, 109 and 120 B of IPC, 12(1) (a) of Passport Act, 14 A (b) & (c) of the Foreigners Act and 24(1) (a) of Immigration Act and 3 persons who assisted the illegal movement have been arrested. A special team of Kerala police has been constituted for investigation.
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