By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, JAN. 19: Two men, Rajender Gurung and Pema Wangyal, reportedly of Tibetan and Nepali origin respectively, have been arrested over an alleged fraud of travel documents at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi.
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) apprehended Rajender Gurung and Pema Wangyal on Sunday (Jan.15) after they were informed by airline staff who got suspicious about Gurung’s documents.
According to investigations, Pema had struck a deal with Gurung to get him to New York on his travel documents for 40,00000 (Forty Lacs). The two men had exchanged travel documents, including boarding passes and passport in an airport toilet, the Delhi Police said.
Questioning by authorities revealed that Gurung was posing as Pema, but he was exposed when United Airlines staff became suspicious and alerted security.
Further probing by the officials also revealed that the two met a month ago in Mahipalpur near the Airport. DCP (Airport) Sanjay Bhatia said, “Initial investigation has revealed that Gurung planned to get refugee status in the US and had agreed to pay Rs 40 lakh to Pema for this. Since Pema had legitimate travel document, he cleared the immigration check before handing his passport to Gurung.”
