From A Correspondent
Agartala, June 4: Tripura police has arrested at least 13 Nigerian citizens from border areas of Belonia in South Tripura district in last eleven months while they were trying to cross over to Bangladesh without valid documents.
The sudden spurt of Nigerians in a particular border has caused concern among the security forces and the police are suspecting involvement of a big human trafficking gang. During interrogation these Nigerians revealed many things but could not give any clue about the persons who brought them to Belonia and reason for selecting this border.
Some of them said that the gang brought them here had robbed all of their belongings. Police have reason to believe them as most of them were found with very little money with them.
The latest two arrested were Beckenmeo Washington (37) on May 16 and ochimore Akene (30) on May 30. Both of them admitted that some people have brought them here with an assurance to help in crossing over to Bangladesh.
They also revealed that the validity of their visa has expired and they are going to Bangladesh where another gang will help them in getting visa. Meanwhile, arrival of two officers of cyber crime branch of Telenga police has further deepened suspicion about them. The officers came here with information that Beckenmeo Washington was involved in stealing gold worth Rs 3.5 crore from the car of a Hyadrabad based businessman Abhisekh Agarwal.
One lady was the prime suspect in the case when few others including Washington was suspected to be involved in the crime. The police officers interrogated Washington in Belonia jail but reportedly uble to extract anything substantial.
Earlier, several Nigerians in a similar fashion were detained from border areas of Somura in Western Tripura bordering Comilla of Bangladesh while trying to cross the border. Why they have started to consider Belonia a safer corridor is also being investigated.