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Keralites among 35 persons ‘absconding’ in New Zealand

KOCHI: About 35 persons, including Malayalis, who had left for Australia for the World Youth Day that opened in Sydney on Tuesday, are said to be ‘absconding’ in New Zealand during an ‘outreach exposure.’

They are suspected to have gone into hiding to become illegal immigrants.

They formed part of the nearly 700-strong contingent of Indian participants at the World Youth Day, a weeklong global Catholic meet.

They are said to have absconded while visiting New Zealand ahead of the Sydney event, which is being attended by Pope Benedict XVI. Most of the ‘absconding’ persons, whose number is yet to be confirmed, are said to be from Punjab.

The Australia-New Zealand trip was organised by the Indian Catholic Youth Movement, the Kerala Catholic Youth Movement (KCYM) and a couple of other Catholic organisations in association with the Australian and New Zealand embassies in Delhi.

Jayson Kollannoor, director of the KCYM, told The Hindu that there were some 110 Malayalis in the contingent.

Of them, 85 were enlisted by the KCYM from all over Kerala.

He, however, said that the national organisation was responsible for sending them abroad.

He said the KCYM was yet to get a correct picture of the number of people who had gone on the trip and those missing.

Fr. Kollannoor, who is also the secretary of the KCBC’s (Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council) Commission on Youth, said the trip was meant to be a cultural exchange.

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Keralites among 35 persons ‘absconding’ in New Zealand

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