Date:07/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/07/stories/2008090754080900.htm

International - India & World

Illegal Indian immigrant crushed to death

LONDON: An illegal Indian immigrant trying to enter Britain by hiding under a truck coming from Belgium has been crushed to death as he tried to slip out from the vehicle, police said.

Baj Singh, 33, hailing from Punjab died at Trent Vale, Staffordshire, earlier this week while trying to jump off from the truck which delivered a cargo of tyres.

Hiding precariously in small spaces in trucks is one of the common ways of illegal entries into Britain from Europe.

The British government has been coordinating efforts with France to prevent such illegal entry on trucks as they enter Britain from Calais across the channel.

The Staffordshire police said the victim’s fingerprint records showed that he was twice picked up by immigration officials while trying to enter the U.K. from Calais and sent back. — PTI