The increasing influx of suspected Bangladeshi infiltration in Mumbai and certain parts of the state is a growing concern. The Maharashtra police have intensified their efforts to identify and round up such infiltrators but the enormity of the threat is so vast that much more will have to be done and without wasting any more time.
The existing procedure to deal with such infiltrators is such that the accused take benefit of the system and roam freely in India. There are many organisations which are trying to help the police to take action against such Bangladeshis but the efforts need to multiply manifold and on all fronts. The sad part is that there is no overall awareness among the general public about this growing danger.
Several shocking facts are coming to light after the campaign to weed out the infiltrators was launched. By and large, it has been noticed that the accused had obtained Aadhaar and PAN cards based on fake documents to reside in India. It is alleged that Indian documents were obtained by them by paying amounts paltry sums like Rs 500 to Rs 2000.
Addressing a state BJP conclave in Shirdi in north Maharashtra a few days ago, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said that nearly 100 cases of illegal immigration had been reported in Amravati and Malegaon in Nashik districts. He said, “”Bangladeshi infiltrators are seeking birth certificates in Maharashtra as part of vote jihad Part 2. These people, many aged around 50 years, are obtaining documents illegally. He expressed determination that not a single infiltrator would be allowed to stay in Maharashtra.
The modus operandi of the infiltrators is well known. One case handled by Thane police force’s Anti-human Trafficking Cell resulted in arrest of a Bangladeshi couple living illegally in Kalyan. The couple had crossed the Indo-Bangladesh border illegally. They were arrested during a raid by the police in the area. The couple was booked under various sections of the Passport Act and Foreigners’ Act by the Thane crime branch. A case was registered against the landlord of the house, who had rented them his house despite being aware that both husband and wife had entered India illegally, the police have charged.
There is revealing statistics available of the action taken in recent months. For instance, the police had arrested 692 Bangladeshi nationals but succeeded in sending only 169 Bangladeshis back to their country. During January to June 2024, the police caught 177 Bangladeshi nationals out of which 81 were sent back to Bangladesh. In 2023, a total of 368 Bangladeshis were arrested, and 68 such Bangladeshis were deported to their homeland. The corresponding figures were 148 Bangladeshis arrested and 21 sent back in 2022.
According to the information gathered by the police, a large number of Bangladeshis are still living in India illegally. These Bangladeshis cross the border to India via West Bengal by paying bribes. They are initially given identity cards through agents from local villages in WB. As there is not enough work in WB and due to low wages, these Bangladeshis travel to Mumbai. Police suspect that a large number of illegal Bangladeshis live in areas like Sewri, Malvani, Malad, Shivajinagar, Mankhurd, Trombay or in Bhiwandi in neighbouring Thane district.
Last year, 368 Bangladeshis were arrested from Mumbai alone. 147 Bangladeshis were arrested from Mumbai in 2022. The State Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) had conducted a special operation in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Solapur and Nashik Districts and arrested 43 Bangladeshi infiltrators in a month.
Police investigation has revealed that a large number of Bangladeshis are working as construction workers and plumbers. Currently, a large number of Bangladeshis are also living in Surat in Gujarat. It has been found that they are working in the zari work, gold-silver, and diamond business in Gujarat. Therefore, it seems that Bangladeshis have turned their attention towards Gujarat after Maharashtra has launched its campaign to identify them.
These Bangladeshis who have come to India take the help of those Bangladeshis who are already living in India and know local agents who make documents. On the basis of just one document, they make more documents. In 2022, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad seized fake passports from 100 Bangladeshis in an operation conducted in Mumbra. Indian passports have more importance abroad than those of Bangladesh. For this reason, these Bangladeshis come to India and then go abroad for work or alternatively settle in India. Therefore, the possibility of thousands of Bangladeshis living in India illegally cannot be ruled out.
Last year, 368 Bangladeshis were arrested from Mumbai alone. 147 Bangladeshis were arrested from Mumbai in 2022. The State Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) had conducted a special operation in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Solapur and Nashik Districts and arrested 43 Bangladeshi infiltrators in a month.
It is not that easy to identify these Bangladeshis who have settled in India. The culture of Bangladesh and West Bengal is almost similar. However, after coming to India, those Bangladeshis do not directly contact their family members in Bangladesh. Instead, they the internet apps.
If and when arrested by the police, they are produced in court. Since many have bogus Aadhaar cards, when they are presented in court, various questions arise. Some of these Bangladeshis are released on bail owing to technical reasons. Thereafter, as long as the case continues, these Bangladeshis obey the conditions imposed by the court and move freely in India. There are no ‘detention centers’ to keep foreign citizens residing in Mumbai without a permit.
In late December 204, Maharashtra Police arrested 16 illegal Bangladeshis from Mumbai and four other cities. for illegally staying in the State, reports stated. While nine were from Mumbai, the rest were from Nashik, Nanded and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, taking the total number of such arrests in December alone to 43.
The arrested Bangladeshi nationals included a woman. They had procured Aadhar cards. On the other hand, seven Bangladeshis were arrested while working without valid documents at a godown in Thane. They had mobile phones and cash with them.
Fadnavis had last year announced that a detention centre would be built in Mumbai to keep illegal Bangladeshi migrants as they could not be held in jails under the existing system. According to Fadnavis, it was observed in recent times that in drug cases, illegal entry cases, illegal Bangladeshis were found involved. Hence his assurance to deal with infiltrators ruthlessly will need to be implemented at the earliest to make Mumbai safe.
A Column By
Dilip Chaware – Senior Editor
A media professional for 43 years, with extensive experience of writing on
a variety of subjects; he is also a documentary producer and book author.
