Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis delivered a strong message in the Maharashtra Assembly this week, made a major announcement that are set to reshape the state’s approach to both illegal immigration. The announcements included the construction of a state-of-the-art detention center in Mumbai for holding illegal Bangladeshi migrants.
In a bold move aimed at tackling the issue of illegal immigration, CM Fadnavis announced that a dedicated detention camp would be built in Mumbai to house illegal Bangladeshi migrants who have entered the country without valid documentation. The decision was made following growing concerns around foreign nationals, particularly Bangladeshis, illegally residing in Maharashtra, often engaging in criminal activities such as drug trafficking and other illegal operations.
Fadnavis, addressing the issue during a session in the Maharashtra Assembly, explained the necessity for such detention centers. He stated, “In recent times, we have seen increasing involvement of illegal Bangladeshi migrants in serious criminal activities, such as drug trafficking and unlawful border crossings. These individuals cannot be housed in our prisons because they are foreign nationals. As per the law, they must be detained in specialised camps until they are deported or their cases are resolved.”
The Chief Minister emphasised that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had initially allocated land for the detention facility, but the plot did not meet the legal requirements for such a facility. Consequently, the state government has requested the BMC to provide an alternate plot, ensuring that the detention center will meet all necessary standards of security and detention.
Fadnavis’s decision follows the recent arrest of a Bangladeshi couple in Kalyan, a city in Thane district, who were living in India illegally. The couple, Sabuj Sanowar Shaikh and Bishti Sabuj Sheikh, had crossed the Indo-Bangladesh border without legal documentation. After a raid by the Thane police’s anti-human trafficking unit, the couple was arrested and charged under the Passport Act and Foreigners Act.
The police investigation revealed that the couple had been living illegally in India for an extended period, and their landlord, Mustafa Munshi, had knowingly rented them a house despite their undocumented status.
Maharashtra authorities are also investigating other cases of illegal Bangladeshi migrants living across the state, with a focus on preventing further encroachments and holding accountable those who knowingly provide shelter to unauthorised migrants.
