Sri Lankans, Maldivians come under scanner

KOCHI: The police and the intelligence wing have geared up to check the inflow of people who arrive from other countries like Sri Lanka and Maldives. The police had received information that several visitors from countries like Sri Lanka and the Maldives are staying in the city for more than the prescribed time period.The police have noted that the inflow of tourists, mainly those who come for medical and purchasing purposes often break the norms  and stay for more than the prescribed period. Since there is a high alert that the Maldives is becoming the hub of terrorist recruits and Sri Lankans with LTTE connection arrested these days, the police suspect that there are high chances of spying in the state. The immigration norms allow people from the Maldives to stay here without visa for 90 days. “They often stay longer than the allowed period. Some of them leave the country on the 89th day and come back on the 91st day. As of now there is no procedure to identify the number of tourists from these countries staying here. The police have taken the issue seriously and the officials have been directed to monitor those staying here illegally,” said M N Ramesh, Assistant Commissioner( Special Branch).The intelligence sources said the police in the states have been issued directives to closely monitor the movement of these people. “Since terrorist activities are on the rise in the country, the police and security agencies have been given directed to closely monitor the visitors from other countries, especially the Maldives. There is also information that the al-Qaeda and other international terrorist groups are recruiting people from the Maldives for their activities in the Middle East countries. The presence of LTTE personnel are also reported in the state. In this wake a security alert has been issued,” intelligence sources said.The authorities have also alerted the airport  authorities that proper checking should be conducted and the names and other details of the visitors from these countries should be recorded.The district heads of police have also been issued alerts in this regard. Steps are also being taken to record the number of visitors arriving and staying in the state in coordination with the emigration wings at the Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi airports.