Date:28/12/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/12/28/stories/2005122821750400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Police to probe Briton's activities

Staff Reporter

Douglas was detained on Sunday while he was proceeding to London

BANGALORE: The city police will look into the activities of Douglas Ian William Rankin, a Briton, and find more about "smuggling" of young boys, which is one of the charge made against him.

The Immigration police on Sunday caught Douglas while he was proceeding to London along with two 16-year-old boys Khayyam, an Iranian, and Habibulla, an Afghan national, with fake travel documents.

He was also charged with "smuggling" young boys to London at the instance of Aliman, an agent from Mumbai.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Bijay Kumar Singh, said the Airport Police, who are investigating the case, would go into details of the activities of Douglas in Goa.

Mr. Singh said the police have not been able to speak to the two boys, as they do not understand English, Hindi or any Indian languages. "We will take the services of persons these languages to speak with Habibulla and Khayyam on Wednesday," Mr. Singh said.