Kerala: Suspected Spy Couple from Israel to be Deported
A couple from Israel Shneor Zalman and Yaffa Shenoi have been placed under surveillance and will be deported soon on grounds of suspicious activities. They landed in the city of Kochi, Kerala on 3 March, 2010. The order for deportation was confirmed following tracking, interrogation and filing of the report by the Kerala Police. The report has been submitted to District Collector of Ernakulam PI Sheik Pareeth.
The couple made a multiple-entry visa, took a house on rent for Rs. 50,000 on Rose Street, Fort Kochi. The rent, which is far higher than the market value evoked the suspicions of state intelligence authorities. It has also been observed that there are frequent visits by a group of people at the couple’s residence for holding meetings. “These meetings lasted for hours in the night. They were under close surveillance,” said intelligence reports.
“Central intelligence got an alert about a covert operation being carried out by suspected Israeli agents after the 26/11 terror attacks in which south Mumbai’s Chabad House came under attack and six Jews, including a Rabbi and his pregnant wife, were killed. A communication was sent to all states and it was our wing in Kerala that traced this couple at Fort Kochi,” reported an intelligence officer.
“We have traced the couple’s financial transactions. Preliminary investigations suggest similar Israelis are camping in various parts of the country,” said the official, who has confirmed that the couple will be interrogated thoroughly.
“A monthly rent of Rs 50,000 is disproportionately high, even in Fort Kochi. This is one of the main factors that made us suspicious,” the intelligence source said. “They have been in the country from March 3, 2010. When their visas expired on March 3 last year, they went out and returned on April 1, 2011 on a new visa.”
Mattancherry, where Jew Town is situated stands host to the state’s Jew population. It is here that the Jews set up their trading activities centuries ago. Mattanchery is known for the oldest Jewish synagogue, built in 1568.
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