Mumbai, June 6: Mumbai police have conducted a significant operation, resulting in the arrest of seven Bangladeshi citizens who have allegedly been living in India illegally for nearly 15 years. Officials reported this development on Saturday.
The operation was carried out by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) police in Andheri. Acting on intelligence, authorities launched a targeted operation, apprehending the seven individuals suspected of entering and residing in the country unlawfully.
Investigators found that the arrested individuals had evaded authorities for over a decade and a half while living in Mumbai. The MIDC police’s Anti-Terrorism Cell (ATC) received information about a group of foreign nationals lacking necessary documents who were expected to seek employment in the area. Following this lead, officials set a trap and detained the suspects.
The arrested group includes four men, two women, and one minor boy. After their detention, authorities initiated a thorough investigation into their backgrounds, movements, and contacts.
Preliminary inquiries revealed that the suspects had been in contact with relatives and associates in Bangladesh via telephone. Police officials stated that further investigations are ongoing to identify individuals who may have assisted this group in entering India, securing housing, or finding jobs in recent years. More information is awaited.
These arrests are part of a broader campaign by Maharashtra police targeting Bangladeshi nationals reportedly residing without documentation across various cities in the state.
In recent months, law enforcement agencies have conducted several intelligence-based operations and verification drives to identify and take action against foreign nationals living illegally in India.
In February, the Versova police in Mumbai executed a similar large-scale operation, arresting 25 Bangladeshi nationals accused of residing in India without legal permission. This operation included 21 transgender individuals, two women, and two men. Following their detention, police began the process of repatriating those arrested back to Bangladesh.
Investigators alleged that the suspects entered India illegally several years ago, initially arriving in Kolkata before moving through Delhi and Gujarat, ultimately settling in Mumbai.
After arriving in the city, these individuals reportedly obtained numerous fake Indian identity documents to establish a basis for residency and avoid detection.
During the operation, officials seized a significant number of Indian and Bangladeshi documents from the accused. These records were confiscated under investigations into fraudulent activities and illegal immigration networks, and are currently being examined.
Authorities are continuing efforts to uncover the full extent of such networks operating in Maharashtra and other parts of the country.
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