Montserrat authorities sound alert that four Indian males have gone missing from that island and ask public to be on the lookout
Antiguans and Barbudans should be on the lookout for four Indian nationals who are being sought by the authorities in Montserrat.
In a press release, the Royal Montserrat Police Service and the Integrated Border Security Unit report that they are seeking the public’s assistance in locating four Indian males who arrived on that island on July 5.
They were scheduled to leave the British Overseas Territory on July 17, 2022, but have not been seen since, and the Montserrat authorities say they are concerned for the Indians’ welfare.
The missing persons are Ajuykumar Thukor and Hemendrakumar Goswami, both 25; Narendrasingh Devda, 20; and Ravikumar Raval, 21.
Anyone with information that can assist in locating these persons is asked to contact 1-664-491-2555 or 1-664-491-3816.
Meanwhile, local residents are asking why so many Indians are rushing to get out of their country. This question is valid, given that a similar incident occurred in Antigua and Barbuda in May.
Seven Indian nationals were landed here on May 5, with tickets booked and finances for their onward journey.
However, after it was learned that they would not be permitted to land at their destination, they were advised to book return tickets to the country from which they had transited to Antigua.
They proceeded to overnight at a local hotel, then failed to show up for their flight the next day.
After discovering the Indians were a no-show for their departure, the Immigration Department said it issued alerts to the relevant authorities.
However, no information – such as the press release issued by Montserrat officials – was shared with the local press at the time.
It was only after REAL News reported on the Indians’ disappearance – weeks after – that the Immigration Department responded, saying they had been legally landed and not detained and confirming they had disappeared.
Immigration officials claimed that they were continuing to monitor this matter and were seeking to ascertain the whereabouts of the seven Indians. However, to date, they have not been reported found.
Earlier, REAL News received information that the Indians had left Antigua by sea for Tortola, British Virgin Islands.
Meanwhile, a group of five Haitian nationals who escaped from the Immigration Detention Centre in May have not been located, either.