Infiltration racket busted in Kishanganj, 1 accused held
KISHANGANJ, June 8 -- Bihar's Kishanganj police uncovered a major racket operating along the Indo-Bangladesh and Indo-Nepal borders that was involved in facilitating the illegal entry of Bangladeshi infiltrators into India.
The police have identified four suspects and arrested one of them. Acknowledgement slips of fake Aadhaar cards were also seized. The racket, which helped numerous Bangladeshi nationals illegally enter and settle in India, involved the creation of counterfeit Aadhaar cards and birth certificates.
These fake documents were allegedly sold to infiltrators for Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000. So far, police have arrested one person and launched a hunt for the others. "The other suspects may have escaped to Nepal," superintendent of police (SP) Sagar Kumar told Hindustan Times over the phone.
"Acting on a tip-off, a police team raided a house in Gilharbari village under Jiapokhar police station and arrested one person identified as Asraful. Fifteen Aadhaar card slips were also seized," the SP said.
The SP further stated, "The arrested person has confessed to his involvement in creating fake Aadhaar cards to help Bangladeshi infiltrators settle in India." Police have identified his four accomplices and registered an FIR against them. Raids are underway to arrest the remaining three suspects.
The police team also raided the house of another accused and seized equipment used to create counterfeit identity cards, including Aadhaar cards. "An eye scanner, printer, finger scanner, laptop with its printer, one mobile phone with two SIM cards (one Indian and the other Nepalese), a four-wheeler with a West Bengal registration number, and other incriminating documents were seized from the house," the SP added.
He did not rule out the existence of a well-organized network facilitating the illegal entry of Bangladeshi nationals into India. "The immigrants, guided by Bangladeshi handlers, cross the border and, upon reaching these villages, are provided with fake Aadhaar cards and other documents. They later travel to major Indian cities using these false identities," police said, emphasizing the need for continuous raids against such rackets that have emerged along the Indo-Bangladesh and Indo-Nepal borders.
Raids are ongoing at all the locations based on clues from the arrested individual. Police claimed, "Other members of the racket will be arrested soon." They also said that scrutinizing the seized mobile phone may reveal more names. Authorities warned that further crackdowns might be necessary to fully rein in these anti-national activities.
In March this year, two Bangladeshi nationals were arrested while crossing the Indo-Nepal border in Galgalia in Kishanganj. The arrested Bangladeshis had traveled to Delhi and were returning to Bangladesh via Nepal when caught.
In October last year, a Bangladeshi national was arrested in Araria, where he had been living for three years after getting married.
Seemanchal has witnessed prolonged agitation against Bangladeshi infiltrators. This latest bust is further proof of how active the racket is in West Bengal and the Seemanchal districts, helping Bangladeshi nationals enter and settle in India illegally.
"As the investigation continues, we are preparing for further action to counter the escalating threat of illegal entry from the neighbouring country, especially in light of the antagonistic attitude after the overthrow of the Sheikh Hasina government," a senior police officer said....
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