“Neither Airport Nor Immigration Authorities Made Arrangements To Send Suraj Lama Home”: Police Tells Kerala HC Over Missing Kuwait Deportee

The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Aluva has filed a report before the Kerala High Court in connection with the investigation into the disappearance Suraj Lama, who has been missing since October 5 after he arrived in Kochi from Kuwait following his deportation.The report was submitted before the division bench comprising Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice M.B. Snehalatha, which was considering the habeas corpus petition filed by Santon Lama, the son of the missing person.The bench had on an earlier occasion directed the Director General of Police to submit all reports pertaining to the missing case. Complying with the same, the present report has been filed.According to the report, the Station-in-charge of the Cochin International Airport (CIAL) had collected the list of deported passengers, which was in Arabic, from the flight crew and after completing immigration checks, had released all passengers, including Suraja Lama from the arrival terminal.It was only on police investigation was this list translated and revealed that the charge for 'alcohol'. Further, it is stated that the airport security staff reported that Lama stayed back and loitered around the airport premises, much after the other deported passengers left. Noticing this, the airport terminal manager was informed, who in turn, conducted inquiries.Suraj had then told that he was a resident of Bangalore and he was then placed in the metro feeder bus to take him to Aluva for travelling to Bangalore via train.In the report, it has been highlighted that though Suraj Lama's place of birth and permanent address were mentioned as West Bengal and Bangalore respectively, the immigration authorities made no arrangements to send him there."it is found that neither the immigration authorities, the airline authorities had made any arrangements to send Suraj Lama to his native place, nor had they taken any required steps in this regard. Even though the airline authorities handed over Suraj Lama who had been deported from Kuwait to the Immigration section for further procedures upon his arrival at Nedumbassery Airport, it remain unanswered how, a deported passenger be released and what are the procedures to be followed before allowing them to leave from the Air Port. Therefore, these matters require further inquiry and detailed verification," states the report.After reaching Aluva, Suraj is stated to have gotten down and bought tea from a stall. Later, he was seen wandering in Unichira and the residents informed the Thrikkakkara police. He was then taken in a police vehicle and on his instructions, was dropped at a place, which the police thought he was indicating as his residence.However, the next day also, he was seen as roaming around in a weak condition and taken in an ambulance to Kalamassery Medical Hospital on police instructions, it is stated.Further, it is stated that the hospital authorities let him leave the hospital at around 9:30 p.m. since he had no bystander with him, recording him as 'conscious and oriented'. The CCTV footage reveals this and that he was seen walking in Kalamassery area wearing only a blue trouser at around 11 p.m.The report further reveals that a decomposed male body wearing only a blue trouser was found at Kalamassery, which they suspected to have belonged to Suraj Lama. The DNA analysis is presently being done to confirm the same."The Immigration Department has not made any sufficient, questioning or, keeping aside the alleged detenue at the International Airport as it was crystal clear that he is a resident of Bangalore and he is the only person without any contact number. Of course, there was medical assistance available at the Cochin International Airport. Instead of that he was diverted to be set free from the airport premises. it has to be answered by the concerned authorities who is having the complete address of a citizen of India be deported from another country be treated and make sure that he reached the safe place, i.e., his home," the report states in the concluding part.When the matter came up for consideration yesterday, the bench gave time for the petitioner's counsel to go through the report and posted the matter today.The petition is moved by Advocate Parvathi Menon.Case No: WP (Crl) No. 1421/2025Case Title: Santon Lama v. State of Kerala and Ors.

“Neither Airport Nor Immigration Authorities Made Arrangements To Send Suraj Lama Home”: Police Tells Kerala HC Over Missing Kuwait Deportee

K. Salma Jennath

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