Consultant sent to jail, nursing graduates return home

BENGALURU: Tony Tom, 36, who was caught by immigration officials at Kempegowda International Airport in an alleged human trafficking case, was remanded in judicial custody on Thursday. All the 32 women nursing graduates, being taken to Armenia before they were rescued, were sent back to their homes.
Tom was nabbed in the early hours of Tuesday after immigration officials suspected foul play during visa and passport verification of the 32 women. Tom claimed he was taking the students to Armenia for a short-term German language course. Visas and passports of the women were found to be genuine and no action was taken against them. “We let them go after recording their statements. Parents of several women arrived at the airport on hearing about the suspected human trafficking case and took them home,” a police officer said.

The students had the e-visa of Armenia, where they were supposed to learn German. “We have asked Armenian authorities whether University of Traditional Medicine of Armenia (UTMA) offers a course in German language. We have sought clarification on whether e-visa is enough to attend the two-month course,” an officer said.

Cops have written to the education department to know the procedures needed to run an education consultancy firm. “We are expecting a reply from Armenia in a few days. Further action will be taken once we get the reply,” said Kala Krishnaswamy, deputy commissioner of police (northeast division).