Missing India pilgrims included Hindus, Muslims

Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 4:07 am

The 39 Indian “pilgrims” , who came to New Zealand on the pretext of seeing the Pope during World Youth Day celebrations in Sydney but have gone missing, were not all Catholics but included Hindus and Muslims. New Zealand Sikh Society spokesman Daljit Singh, who was in contact with some of the missing pilgrims, said the Indians claimed to be victims of an immigration racket and were charged thousands of dollars by an agent in India on a false promise of permanent residency. Two of the men, Singh said, he had spoken to were not even Catholics.

“They are from all over India and every community. There are Catholics, Hindus and even one or two Muslims,” Singh said, adding he was upset by the group’s behaviour, which he felt reflected badly on the Indian community in New Zealand. Some of the Indians were seen wandering around Queen St in Auckland, approaching people of Indian descent for advice.

The men had visas valid till August 5 or 6 but had to take a Sydney-bound flight on Tuesday (July 15), Singh said, adding he was planning to arrange a meeting between the Indians and immigration officials to encourage them to return home before their visas expired.

A Boder Security Officer in New Zealand has told TIMES NOW that Immigration New Zealand staff had no reason to doubt over those travelling, especially given the involvement of the Catholic Church in India. He said those who have gone missing are principally from Jalandhar in the Punjab and they had been supported by their local Catholic Youth Organisation and the Bishop of Jalandhar.

Sources say while some of these pilgrims may have planned their disappearence, others may be victims, who went on the run after finding out their Indian agent had lied about getting them permanent visas. It is believed that they may have paid agents in India over 15-thousand dollars for the visas.

Catholic communications director Lyndsay Freer said the pilgrims had gone through a vigorous selection process in India, which would have required “serious dishonesty” to circumvent, New Zealand’s One News TV channel reported. “It’s really disappointing that World Youth Day, which is a wonderful celebration for young Catholics, appears to be used for a scam,” she said.

(PTI)

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Missing India pilgrims included Hindus, Muslims

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