Kanjipani Imran: Tamil Nadu Q Branch sets up massive search

COLOMBO (News 1st) Wanted drug trafficker Kanchipani Imran is on the run from Sri Lankan Authorities and the ‘Q’ Branch of the Tamil Nadu police is actively searching for whether he is hiding in Tamil Nadu. 

The Q Branch is one of the Criminal Investigation Department wings of the Tamil Nadu Police.

Look-out notices have been issued to all airports to prevent the criminal from fleeing abroad.

The Sri Lankan government has also sought India’s help to capture Imran. The Central Intelligence Agency has also warned the Tamil Nadu government in this regard.

An intensive search is being conducted in 14 coastal districts of Tamil Nadu and fishing village areas.

Q Branch Officers told Indian media that its personnel are questioning several local people and fishermen to determine if Imran had sneaked into Rameswaram.

A Sri Lankan court has already ordered the guarantors for Najeem Mohammed Imran alias Kanjipani Imran to appear in court.

Kanjipani Imran, who is a leading drug trafficker in the country, had fled to India and is now preparing to enter Pakistan from there.

Imran's mother, brother, and another individual are listed as guarantors.

Kanjipani Imran faces serious charges in Sri Lanka including murder, and he was released on a Rs. 5 Million personal bail by the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court on the 20th of December, and the court also barred him from travelling overseas.

Indian Intelligence put Tamil Nadu on High Alert following information that one of Sri Lanka’s notorious drug lords ‘Kanjipani’ Imran had entered India through the coastal Rameswaram, five days later.

According to the court order, Kanjipani Imran must report to the Maligawatte Police on the last Sunday of every month, and as he failed to appear the Police had reported the matter to the court.

Sri Lanka Police said that the court issued an order on Imran's mother, brother and another person who were listed as guarantors to appear in court at the next trial date in March 2023.

Indian media have reported that Najeem Mohammed Imran alias Kanjipani Imran, who is a leading drug trafficker in the country, had fled to India and is now preparing to enter Pakistan from there.

However, the main question is, how did he fled to India after his release on bail.

Indian Intelligence put Tamil Nadu on High Alert following information that one of Sri Lanka’s notorious drug lords ‘Kanjipani’ Imran had entered India through the coastal Rameswaram.

An Intelligence alert said Imran had managed to enter the coastal town on Christmas eve along with another individual.

Kanjipani Imran faces serious charges in Sri Lanka including murder, and he was released on a Rs. 5 Million personal bail by the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court on the 20th of December, and court also barred him from travelling overseas.

The Sri Lankan government on Tuesday (3) raised concerns over the country's intelligence network after notorious underworld gangster and drug lord Kanjipani Imran alias Mohammed Imran fled to India after his release on bail.

What is Kajipani Imran's connection with India?

In December 2021, the Indian National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested nine Sri Lankan nationals from the special camp for refugees at Tiruchirapalli for their alleged involvement in smuggling of drugs and arms, and for their close ties to a durgs and arms peddler in Pakistan.

The agency said that two of the arrested men were in regular touch with a Pakistan-based drugs and arms runner, Haji Salim, who often travelled between Dubai, Pakistan and Iran. 

The Indian National Intelligence Agency says that hese men and Salim were working to revive the LTTE in Sri Lanka and India.

Among these nine men was Gamage Suranga Pradeep also known as Welle Suranga.

He was arrested by the Police Special Task Force in Sri Lanka on the 9th of April 2019.

Interrogation of the suspect at the time revealed that he was closely liked to the now-slain underworld don Makandure Madush and Kanjipani Imran.

Indian intelligence services also said that C. Gunasekaran also known as Kimbula Ele Guna, Nalin Chathuranga also known as Ladiya had maintained ties with Pakistan-based drugs and arms runner Haji Salim as well as with Kanjipani Imran.

Who is Kanjipani Imran?

Najeem Mohammed Imran alias Kanjipani Imran fled to Dubai from Sri Lanka using a fake passport on the 28th of March 2015. 

He was spending a luxurious life in Dubai, and was arrested along with Makandure Madush and other gangsters following a party at a Dubai Hotel on the 5th of February 2019.

Thereafter, Kanjipani Imran was deported to Sri Lanka and was arrested in Katunayake when he attempted to flee to the Maldives.

Later, the one-time underworld don Makandure Madush was gunned down while in police custody in Sri Lanka.

On the 23rd of August 2019, the Colombo High Court sentenced Kanjipani Imran to six year of rigorous imprisonment for the possession and trafficking of drugs.
 
Attorney Lakshman Perera who appeared for Kanjipani Imran told court that his client pleads guilty for the for the possession and trafficking charged.

Accordingly the court sentenced Kanjipani Imran to six years rigorous imprisonment - three years for each charge of possession and trafficking. 

Last year, he was released on bail in the case filed for threatening a police officer with death.

Concerns are mounting over what happened to the remaining three year prison term, and did underworld gangster managed flee after his release on bail. 

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