The Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) Police rescued 32 nursing graduates from Kerala who are suspected to be victims of a human trafficking racket from at Kempegowda International Airport on Tuesday, November 27. They were rescued when they were on their way the University of Traditional Medicine of Armenia (UTMA), where they were going to pursue a short-term course in German.

Accused arrested

According to deputy commissioner of police, Kala Krishnaswamy, a case of attempted human trafficking has been registered by the police, based on a complaint by Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) officials. The nurses, most of who had studied in Mangaluru, were being taken to Armenia by 40-year-old Tony Tom, who was arrested on the suspicion of being associated with the human trafficking racket, reported The Times of India.

According to the police officer, an education consultancy called Hopesyn Education Education Institution is run by Tony Tom in Mangaluru, and it was his offer that he would facilitate the study at UTMA. Tom was on his way to Armenia with the nursing graduates and was at the airport to catch a flight around 4 am on Tuesday. Immigration officials, doubting that any such course was even being offered by the university, suspected foul play. Tom and the women were handed over by immigration officials to BIAL police for investigation, and will most likely be produced before Devanahalli court.

Accused’s attempt to establish his point

While the women were sent back to their native places, Tom told police during interrogation that two medical students had earlier been sent to UTMA by him. He further said that he had requested UTMA to send a letter of confirmation to BIAL police to prove that the nursing students were going for admission, said a report by Deccan Herald.

Police was told by the nursing students that a copy of the advertisement about the course at UTMA, which appeared in a newspaper, was given to them by Tom. The copy had details of job benefits that one will get in reputed hospitals if they pursue the course. Tom’s background is further being checked by police.

“We have registered an FIR and booked him under suspected human trafficking, following a complaint filed by the Immigration officials. We will wait for the confirmation letter. However, he will be produced before the court this afternoon,” said BIAL police. Reportedly, Tom had asked each student to pay him $1,200 for the course and Rs 30,000 for a travel visa. 

The Logical Indian urges police to investigate the matter and take strict action against the accused if found guilty of the crime. 

Also Read: Sunitha Krishnan: The Icon Who Has Saved Over 17,000 People From Human Trafficking