Niyans was just six months old when his parents took him on board a fishing boat that sailed from a port in the southern state of Kerala.
More than five months later there is still no news about Niyans or his parents, or about the 243 others aboard the untraceable boat.
The Deva Matha 2 sailed from Munambam Harbor in Kerala on January 12th this year. Police only came to to the conclusion it may be a case of human trafficking after locals alerted them about dozens of abandoned bags and identity cards found on the beach.
Relatives' anguished wait
Distraught relatives of the missing, most Sri Lankan Tamils from the Ambedkar Nagar Colony, a poor neighbourhood on the outskirts of Delhi, have been waiting for months for an update. The rest are believed to be from Chennai, the capital of the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
Niyan’s grandmother Kasturi says both her sons, Chiranjeevi and Jagadish, are believed to have been on the boat along with their spouses and children.
Kasturi showing photos of her family members who were in the boat Source: Supplied
“I have lost my family. I am praying to god, I have to know where they are,” she told SBS Malayalam.
"I hope the Australian or New Zealand governments will tell us that they are safe there. I hope to hear that."
Initially, families were told by the police that the boat was heading to Australia or New Zealand, but officials themselves are now not sure.
Earlier this week they gathered in New Delhi to plead for information.
“We know how the world came together to search for the MH370 flight when it went missing with 239 people. Here's a boat and 243 people are missing, and no one seems bothered. No search operations, no appeals and no answers,” said M. Unnikrishnan, a Delhi based journalist who has been following the case.
A distraught relative pleads for information on the whereabouts of the missing fishing vessel. Source: Supplied
Relatives allege middlemen promised jobs in NZ
Many relatives say, middlemen, or agents, had visited the colony in Delhi offering jobs and large salaries, luring people to embark on the boat journey. People in the past, they claim, had reached countries such as Australia and New Zealand.
'The New Zealand government is promoting cheap labours in their country, so initially on entering the territory of New Zealand, the people will be caught, however later they will be released.'
In a document submitted to authorities, the of families 300 people said they had been "duped" by three men for "illegal purposes".
"(The men) took their hard earned money and since 12.01.2019 these people are missing from Kerala."
Their statement alleges a man by the name of Ravinder Kumar told the group the boat would be leaving Kerala for New Zealand in January and that "the passengers will not require any visa or passport to travel as they have managed the Indian authorities.
"The New Zealand government is promoting cheap labours in their country, so initially on entering the territory of New Zealand, the people will be caught, however later they will be released."
Prabhu's story
Prabhu, a resident of New Delhi said he missed getting onto the boat.
"There was a 12-day-old baby also in the group," he told SBS Malayalam over the phone. He also said it was his second attempt to seek asylum in Australia or New Zealand.
"In 2013 I had travelled to Christmas Islands by boat from Kerala," he said. "It took 16 days to reach there, then we were transferred to Darwin."
After spending 17 months in detention and in community Prabhu said he and several others were deported back to India.
Azhikode Munakkal Beach, near Munambam Harbour, Kerala Source: Haribhagirath/wikimedia
"We signed an agreement with the Australian government, and got paid Rupees 4 lakhs (around $8,000 AUD) to go back," he claims.
Prabhu said he tried to reach New Zealand again this time and was ready to pay around $6,000 to middlemen. But the bus that took people from Delhi to Kerala was overcrowded, and he had to stay back.
Indian and Australian authorities' response
Kanakalimgam, one of the residents in the colony whose three sons are believed to be on the boat, told SBS Malayalam that they have approached many government departments seeking a reply.
“We met [deputy] the Minister of External Affairs and he talked to the Kerala police chief over the phone. We were told that searches were on for the last five months but they couldn’t find any clue yet," he said.
Kanakalimgam pleaded with Australian and New Zealand governments to shed some light on whether the boat had reached its waters.
“We just want to know that they are alive. Wherever they live, it is fine, but please let us know if they are alive. We have any more tears left, we are not able to cry anymore,” he said.
A high-ranking police official in Kerala confirmed to SBS Malayalam that an Interpol 'Blue notice' had been issued to nearby member countries for any information.
'This is why the Australian Government remains committed to strong border protection policies. We want to combat criminal people smuggling, and prevent people from risking their lives on dangerous and illegal boat voyages,' - Dept of Home Affairs
In a statement to SBS, the Department of Home Affairs confirmed Australia has been engaged with Indian officials since January 2019 to assist in determining the location of the missing vessel:
"Australia has responded to all requests received from India via Interpol in relation to the vessel. The fact the vessel remains un-located after six months highlights the extremely dangerous nature of maritime people smuggling.
"This is why the Australian Government remains committed to strong border protection policies. We want to combat criminal people smuggling, and prevent people from risking their lives on dangerous and illegal boat voyages."
Immigration New Zealand said that while it doesn't comment on any 'specific venture' it is aware that people smugglers continue to express interest in targetting New Zealand, and is constantly working with international partners to monitor and respond to potential mass arrivals.
Indian police have already arrested 10 alleged middlemen, including two from the colony in New Delhi, in relation to the incident and charged them with sections of illegal people smuggling.
