In Kerala, 15 more illegal Bangladeshi nationals living in the state have been arrested by the state police based on intelligence inputs from Military Intelligence and the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). The arrests, made on June 8, have once again revealed what investigators describe as a recurring pattern involving fake Aadhaar cards, voter IDs, ration cards and PAN cards bearing addresses in West Bengal. According to the investigation, the accused allegedly took advantage of the Bangla language to conceal their nationality.
The operation began with raids in the Chavara and Kottarakkara areas of Kollam district. Interrogation of those initially arrested pointed to the existence of a larger infiltration network, leading police to conduct further searches at a labour camp in Lower Karikkam, Kollam. The subsequent operation resulted in the arrest of ten more Bangladeshi nationals, including three children.
Among those arrested was Mohammed Nattu Hassan, a Bangladeshi national from Bhelakpur, who had reportedly been living in Kollam for several months. Police recovered a Bangladeshi national identity card from his possession.
According to investigators, the arrests were based on intelligence reports received from Military Intelligence and the ATS, while the interrogation of the suspects helped expose what police describe as the Kottarakkara network.
As per reports, the arrested had been running a restaurant in Kollam while allegedly using forged identity documents. Police recovered fake Aadhaar cards, fake voter IDs, ration cards and PAN cards from the accused. The entire business, according to the investigation, was allegedly operated using forged documents. The arrests were carried out over a period of eight days from various parts of Kollam district.
Police have registered cases against the accused under the Foreigners Act, 2025, as well as for forging official documents. The Foreigners Act, 2025, replaced the earlier Foreigners Act of 1946.
Kerala, Kollam. 8 days. 15 Bangladeshi nationals arrested. 🚨
Fake Aadhaar cards. Fake businesses. Fake identities. A hotel run on forged documents.!!
In the last eight days, 15 Bangladeshi nationals have been caught by police and central agencies in various parts of Kollam… pic.twitter.com/Y0k29Zm8Rj
— MAHARATHI (@MahaRathii) June 19, 2026
The investigation has also found that some of the accused had allegedly entered the business sector using forged documents. Police said they had established a hotel in Kollam by posing as natives of West Bengal and obtained ration cards and Food Safety Department licences using fake documents.
Police are continuing a detailed investigation into the network. According to investigators, the illegal infiltrators used fake Aadhaar and voter ID cards obtained through agents to cross the border and remain in Kerala. Officials believe the lack of proper police verification enabled them to settle in the state.
The latest arrests point to a standard pattern of infiltration and a support ecosystem identified during the investigation. According to the investigation, illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators enter India through the porous West Bengal and Assam border with the assistance of agents. After entering the country, they obtain forged Indian identity documents, including Aadhaar cards, voter IDs, ration cards and PAN cards, before dispersing across different states in search of employment and business opportunities as well as becoming proxies of anti-national forces.
After obtaining forged identity documents, infiltrators freely move across the country, secure accommodation, work for lower wages and, in some cases, establish commercial establishments while posing as Indian citizens, making detection and enforcement more challenging.
