The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested four Bangladeshi nationals for allegedly using forged documents to obtain Indian passports, officials reported. Acting on a tip-off, the Juhu unit of the ATS apprehended the accused, who had been residing in various parts of Mumbai for an extended period with fake documents. The arrested individuals, identified as Riyaz Hussain Shaikh (33), Sultan Siddhiaue Shaikh (54), Ibrahim Shafiulla Shaikh (44), and Faruque Usmangani Shaikh (39), had illegally entered the country several years ago.
Illegal Bangladeshi immigrants obtained false Indian documents and used it to get voter card. Two of them casted votes in Lok Sabha Elections (Image: ANI)
Fake IDs and Illegal Voting
The investigation revealed that Riyaz Hussain Shaikh, originally from Hridaynagar, Thane-Bashirhat, District Novakhali, Bangladesh, voted in one of Mumbai’s constituencies. Similarly, Sultan Siddique Shaikh, a 54-year-old rickshaw driver from Sinodi, Post Chandehat, Tehsil Batoya, District Sadar Novakhali, Bangladesh, also cast his vote. Both individuals were previously involved in illegal immigration cases and were out on bail.
“The accused already had illegal immigration cases against them and were out on bail. When we noticed voting marks on their fingers, they were questioned and arrested. We suspect that a few more Bangladeshi nationals have voted in a similar fashion,” an officer of the ATS said.
Forgery and Deception
The arrested individuals used counterfeit citizenship documents to obtain voter ID cards, enabling them to reside in Mumbai. Ibrahim Shafiulla Shaikh, a 46-year-old vegetable seller, and Farooq Usmangani Shaikh, a 39-year-old resident of Oshiwara, Jogeshwari (West), were found to have similar backgrounds. Ibrahim's real address is in Sahebar Hat, Kadirpur, Thana-Begumganj, District Novakhali, Bangladesh, while Farooq hails from Kabir Hat, Moninagar, District Novakhali, Bangladesh.
“They had obtained voter ID cards using counterfeit citizenship documents. These fake documents also allowed them to reside in Mumbai,” the ATS officer added further.
Ongoing Investigation and Legal Actions
The ATS is actively pursuing five other Bangladeshi nationals connected to this case who are currently evading arrest. Authorities discovered that after obtaining counterfeit Indian documents from Surat, Gujarat, these illegal immigrants settled in Mumbai. "One of the absconding individuals even used forged Indian documents to travel to Saudi Arabia," disclosed an ATS officer familiar with the investigation. The ATS has registered a case under Sections 465 (forgery), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document), and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), as well as Section 12 (1A) of the Indian Passport Act, reflecting the seriousness of their offenses.
What does the ATS probe reveal?
The official stated that the ATS investigations revealed that these Bangladeshis used forged documents claiming they were residents of Surat, Gujarat, to obtain Indian passports. Additionally, it was discovered that some Bangladeshi citizens are working abroad by posing as Indian citizens using these fake passports.
The investigations further revealed that besides those arrested, five more individuals had obtained passports in a similar manner, with one fleeing to Saudi Arabia for work using fake Indian documents.
The ATS probe also uncovered that some of these individuals voted in the recent Lok Sabha elections using these forged passports. The official mentioned that the arrested suspects have been remanded in police custody, and an investigation is ongoing to determine if they were involved in terror-related activities.
The Maharashtra ATS is gathering information about the network of the arrested Bangladeshis. All four suspects were presented before the Mazgaon Court and the Court sent three of them to judicial custody, while the fourth was placed in ATS custody until June 14.
Nine illegal Bangladeshi women arrested earlier in Mumbai
Earlier, nine female illegal Bangladeshi immigrants were arrested around Mira Road, Mumbai. On June 7th, MBVV (Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar) police authorities announced the arrest of these nine Bangladeshi women in a significant crackdown on illegal immigration due to overstaying in India without proper documentation. Another woman was also apprehended for sheltering them. On June 5th, following confidential information, the Naya Nagar police conducted a raid in the Shanti Nagar and Gita Nagar areas of Mira Road, resulting in these actions.
8 illegal Rohingya immigrants
On February 29th, the Mira Bhayandar Police apprehended eight illegal Rohingya immigrants near Bhayandar in the coastal town of Uttan. These individuals, originally from Myanmar, were identified as Imam Hussain Abdul Kasim (25), Mohammad Johar Noor Mohammad (39), Amir Hussain Asad Ali (42), Ali Hussain Abdul Sobi (49), Noorul Amin Yusuf Ali (52), Kamal Hussain Noor Kamal (35), Mohammad Zakir Hussain Abu Alam (30), and Hamid Hussain Ali Akbar (55). They were captured on February 26th at the fishing jetty in Chowk village while trying to evade the police squad. Fluent in Hindi, they were charged under the Foreigners Act and the Indian Passport Act after failing to present valid documentation permitting their stay in the country.
Conclusion
The demographic landscape of India is undergoing significant shifts due to the unchecked influx of illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants, posing multifaceted challenges to societal harmony and national security. These migrants not only contribute to demographic imbalances but also frequently involve themselves in illicit activities and extremist movements, escalating communal tensions and jeopardizing local communities. In response to these threats, urgent governmental action is imperative. Implementing robust measures such as the National Register of Citizens (NRC) is crucial to effectively identify and repatriate undocumented migrants, ensuring that law-abiding citizens are protected and national security is fortified. This proactive approach is vital to uphold the integrity of India's social fabric and secure the well-being of its people.
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