27 Indians Freed in France Amid Human Trafficking Suspicions

After days of detainment at Chalons-Vatry airport, local French reports confirm the release of 27 Indians seeking asylum.

Freedom Amidst Suspicion.

News agency PTI reports the release of 27 Indians who opted to stay in France, seeking asylum. This group, part of 303 passengers on a flight bound for Nicaragua, faced suspicions of human trafficking during a stopover at Vatry airport.

Quoting local media, PTI states that a local judge ordered their release on "formal grounds." The judge noted that the border police at Charles De Gaulle airport had not referred the case within the stipulated timeframe, granting the passengers freedom despite their irregular status.

Of the released individuals, five minors were placed under the care of child welfare services. This development adds a nuanced dimension to the situation, emphasizing the complexities surrounding the group's stay in France.

The passengers, part of a Romanian-operated plane from Dubai, faced unexpected hurdles during a refuelling stopover at Vatry airport on December 21. Anonymous tip-offs led to suspicions of human trafficking, resulting in a four-day detainment.

While two individuals were questioned by French police regarding people trafficking, Mumbai Police and the Anti-Human Trafficking Cell are set to collaborate on the case's comprehensive investigation. The focus remains on understanding the circumstances surrounding the detainment and the subsequent release.

As the freed individuals navigate their situation on French territory, the officials seek a detailed report on the airport security personnel's interrogation of passengers who returned to Mumbai on the same flight early Tuesday.