A fishing boat with between 100-200 people on board is reportedly on its way to New Zealand, according to media reports quoting local police in India.
The vessel left a port in the southern state of Kerala on January 12th. Police were reportedly alerted after the discovery of dozens of abandoned bags at Munambam Harbour. Other bags were discovered around ten kilometres away near a temple.
Superintendent of Police Rahul Nair, who is in charge of the investigation confirmed to SBS Malayalam that a vessel had left Munambam Harbour with 'many illegal' migrants but he could not confirm where the boat was heading. He added that the vessel was currently missing.
He said that several people from Coimbatore, Delhi and Chennai are being questioned but no arrest has been made so far.
Indian Express journalist Arun Janardhanan told Radio New Zealand: "People who ran the boat had to accommodate the maximum number of people. They must have asked these people to abandon all their belongings. But at the same time, there are reports that this boat had enough provisions and stock - such as oil, food etc - for almost a month away."
Photo obtained by Mathubhumi.com allegedly showing abandoned bags of Indian migrants found in Munambam. Source: Mathrubhumi.com
Over 100 women, children and elderly people, reportedly from Sri Lanka and India are believed to be on the boat.
Heading to New Zealand, not Australia
Arun Janardhanan said that one of those he managed to speak to, who is now in police custody, said that previously Australia had been the country of choice.
"Australia was the usual destination until a few months or a year back. But Australia has since tightened the rules. It has become not so welcoming to enter the Australian coast."
"The bags are full of dry goods and clothes, suggesting they were preparing for a long journey. The people and boat are missing somewhere in the sea. Many Indian agencies including the coast guard are trying to locate the boat," police officer MJ Sojan told Reuters.
Immigration authorities in New Zealand are warning of the dangers of attempting the journey by sea.
Any attempt to reach New Zealand will put your life, and the lives of your family members, at great risk. There is every chance you will drown at sea,'' Stephen Vaughan from Immigration New Zealand (INZ) told Reuters.
"Although there has never been a mass arrival in this country there’s no doubt that New Zealand is a target for people smugglers, and a mass arrival at some stage is a very real possibility that we need to be fully prepared for," he said.
A spokesperson from Australia's Department of Home Affairs told SBS Malayalam that it does not comment on media speculation nor does it comment on operational matters.
