Melbourne: Half of the 39 Indians, who went "missing" from the New Zealand capital after arriving there on pretext of attending a catholic event in Sydney, have been traced while two others headed for home today after a two-week ordeal.

The Indians, who claim to be victims of an immigration scam and paid $17,000 each for what they thought would be permanent residency when they arrived in New Zealand, disappeared last week, sending immigration officials into a tizzy.

About 220 Indians arrived in Auckland last week bound for Sydney's World Youth Day celebrations to see the Pope, but the 39-strong group failed to turn up for their connecting flight on July 15. Some reports today put the number of those missing as 40.

About 20 members of the group have been located, officials said. Sikh Society spokesman Daljit Singh said a couple of members of the group are leaving today as they now understand that they do not have residency and are departing before their visas expire on August five.

Singh, who has been in contact with some of the missing Indian pilgrims, said some are as young as 16, and thought they were coming in Auckland to study. An Immigration Service spokesman told New Zealand Press Association that the two people would leave the country today.

Source : PTI