DNA EXCLUSIVE: African man without visa flees from IGIA

Immigration and intelligence sleuths at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) were left horror-stricken on Sunday, after a West African national, detained for not having a valid visa, escaped from their custody.

According to sources in immigration, the man had come from Guinea-Bissau, a terror-hit country with strong influence of dreaded Boko Haram and ISIS outfits, by an Ethiopian Airlines flight. He reached the airport around 10.30 am and approached the immigration department for an e-visa. Guinea-Bissau, however, is not listed among the countries eligible for an e-visa, and so he was detained.

“He had introduced himself as Gomez Julio. While the immigration sleuths were busy completing the formalities, the suspect managed to change his clothes and vanish. He even left behind his passport with the immigration department and luggage with the Ethiopian Airlines,” an officer said.

“The passenger had entered India without any valid document or visa. He had mentioned a mobile number, which is now being tracked. It is a major security lapse and we are questioning the immigration officials for more details,” a police officer said.

“CCTV footage from the spot has also been procured and efforts are on to identity him. Raids are being conducted across the city. The authenticity …read more