In a significant operation, officials from Bengaluru’s Central Crime Branch (CCB) successfully apprehended three Sri Lankan nationals. These individuals, who had reportedly escaped police custody in their home country, were found to be illegally overstaying in a rented apartment in Devanahalli for the past eight months.
Acting on a critical tip-off, a dedicated police team, led by DCP (Crime) Raja Imam Khasim, conducted a raid on the apartment, leading to the arrests. The ongoing investigation suggests that all three accused are part of an international drug syndicate and had fled from enforcement authorities in Jaffna. Their journey to India involved a boat trip to Rameswaram, where they stayed for a few days before moving to Bengaluru with the assistance of a local contact.
Authorities are now intensely focused on uncovering the full scope of their activities within the city during their extended stay and identifying any local contacts who may have provided them with logistical support or shelter.
Echoes of a Previous Case
This incident is not an isolated one for the CCB. In August 2023, the department made similar arrests, apprehending three other Sri Lankan nationals. These individuals were also suspected of being involved in multiple cases in their native country and had similarly escaped to Bengaluru. They reached Rameswaram via a sea route and, with the help of a local agent, settled in a residential apartment in Yelahanka, where they lived for about a month using forged documents before their capture.