The Karnataka police have arrested six Bangladeshi nationals in Chitradurga. They had entered India illegally and had stayed in West Bengal before entering Karnataka, the police said.
The arrested persons have been identified as Shek Saifur Roman, Mohammad Suman Husen Ali, Majharul, Azizul Shaik, Mohammad Saik Sikdar and Sanawar Hossain.
The police said that these persons had come in search of work. Once they entered Karnataka, they visited many places before landing in Chitradurga, and they told the police during questioning. The police have seized their Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, and other proof of identification. These arrests once again reiterate that there is a racket in West Bengal which is helping these persons who illegally enter India. Once these persons land in India, they are immediately handed over Aadhaar cards, voter IDs, and other documents, which are made fraudulently.
Investigations showed that these persons had procured fake identification documents in Kolkata after they had entered India from Bangladesh. All six persons were picked up during a police patrol at the 2nd Phase of Dhavalagiri Layout, near Arvind Garments and White Wash Garments on Holalkere Road.
The police said that further legal action is being discussed. It may be recalled that last month, eight Bangladeshi nationals who were staying illegally in Karnataka’s Udupi district were taken into custody. They were residing in Hood village in the district for the last three years without valid passports or visas.
In the Udupi case, one of the persons arrested told the police that 25,000 people had entered India from Bangladesh over the last three years. The police suspect that there may be around 1 lakh Bangladeshis living in Karnataka. These illegal immigrants are said to have entered India through a network through Assam, West Bengal, Tripura, Mizoram and Meghalaya.
It was also found that some of the illegal immigrants had even purchased property in Karnataka. They manage to integrate well with the locals as they are quick to learn the local language. Such incidents have led to pressure from the public to stop such persons from staying in the state. There is a growing call to interrogate the brokers and agents who bring illegal migrants into the state.
