Police have arrested three members of a Rohingya family for illegally residing in India for several years. The individuals, identified as Abdul Hasim, his wife Rozina Begum, and their son Bilal Mian, were detained in Murshidabad district near the India-Bangladesh border late on the night of October 10.
Acting on a tip-off that some foreign nationals were hiding in the border area and planning to cross into Bangladesh, a local police team launched a late-night operation. The trio was apprehended before they could attempt to slip across the border.
During initial questioning, the arrested individuals confessed to being Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar. They reportedly entered Bangladesh first before illegally crossing into India a few years ago. Since then, they had been moving from state to state in search of work, living without valid documentation.
According to police sources, the family had managed to blend in with local communities for a time. However, their recent attempts to cross back into Bangladesh raised suspicions. Investigators believe the family was trying to return to Myanmar through Bangladesh, avoiding detection by Border Security Force (BSF) personnel.
A senior district police officer confirmed that an investigation is underway. “We are looking into how they entered Indian territory from Myanmar via Bangladesh and how long they have been residing here,” the officer said.
The suspects were produced in court on October 10 and have been remanded to 14 days of judicial custody. Four minors found with the family during the raid were also taken into custody and have since been sent to a reform home for care and protection. Authorities are also probing whether the family had any local support or assistance in entering and staying in India illegally.
In light of the incident, border security has been further tightened in Murshidabad, a region known for being a frequent entry point for illegal immigrants crossing over from Bangladesh.
