Half of "pilgrims" rounded up 

Half of a group of Indian pilgrims who thought they had bought New Zealand residency have now been found, withn two heading home on Sunday.

Over 200 arrived in Auckland last week, heading for Sydney's World Youth Day celebrations.

The number who disappeared is now put at 40.

Scamsters in New Delhi had reportedly told them they had bought the right to live in New Zealand - at around $17,000 each.

Sikh Society spokesman Daljit Singh says there were also people in New Zealand encouraging them to run away and hide from authorities.

Singh says the two who left now understand they do not have residency and chose to depart before their visas run out.

Singh, who has been in contact with some of the missing Indian pilgrims, says some are as young as 16 and thought they were coming here to study.

But he says it is very upsetting for all the pilgrims, as they are now realising they have not bought a new life and were cruelly swindled.

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