In a development that may explain the disappearance of several Britons of Indian origin during visits to India, an investigation report on BBC says British Asians have been hiring killers in India to target their friends and family.
Reflecting the globalisation of the practice of ‘supari’ (contract killing), the investigation has revealed that nearly 100 Britons of Indian origin may have fallen victims to such murders every year.
The Scotland Yard and the Foreign Office are aware of the practice. The targets reportedly include women killed for family honour or prosperous businessmen for money.
Most of such murders take place in Punjab, the investigation reported on the BBC Asian Network, titled ‘Passport to Murder’, revealed. It said that family or business associates were lured to the sub-continent, where contract killers can be reportedly hired for £500.
Britain-born Jassi Khangura, a member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly, has investigated the trend which he believes claims the lives of between 50 and 100 overseas Indians every year.
He said most of the killings are carried out in Punjab and alleged police corruption and bureaucratic or legal loopholes mean the perpetrators are seldom tried.
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Poonam Taneja, who reported the invstigation for BBC, said: “These armchair murder plots are hatched in the living rooms of Britain and executed mainly in the rural Indian state of Punjab”.
Commander Steve Allen of the Metropolitan Police Service warned: “We have increased our knowledge of and our confidence in dealing with murders of British citizens overseas. We will follow you, we will pursue the evidence and we will bring you to justice wherever in the world you commit these offences.”
The Foreign Office says six British nationals are currently missing in India. The BBC report added that Punjab Police denied corruption allowed the British Asians behind such murders to evade justice. The reported quoted the Punjab Police as saying that the figures are exaggerated and denied that the force was riddled with corruption.
Some victims’ families are now turning to authorities in the UK for assistance, the report added.