Pune Police Arrest 21 Illegal Bangladeshi Immigrants with Fake Indian IDs in Joint Operation
Pune Police Arrest 21 Illegal Bangladeshi Immigrants with Fake Indian IDs in Joint Operation
In a significant crackdown on illegal immigration, Pune police, in collaboration with the Anti-Terrorism Wing, arrested 21 Bangladeshi nationals living illegally in the Karegaon area of Ranjangaon MIDC on October 21, 2024. The group was found in possession of forged Indian identification documents, including Aadhaar cards, voter IDs, and PAN cards.
The arrests followed a tip-off received by Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Vishal Gavane during a patrol conducted by Assistant Police Inspector Prakash Pawar of the Anti-Terrorism Branch. The intelligence suggested that several Bangladeshi nationals were living in the area without proper documentation. Acting swiftly, the police, under the guidance of Superintendent of Police (SP) Pankaj Deshmukh, raided the location and detained 15 men, 4 women, and 2 transgender individuals who had been residing on rent in the region.
During the investigation, the detainees confessed to entering India illegally through the Bangladesh border. Many of them were employed as daily-wage laborers. The police discovered that some individuals had fake Aadhaar cards, while others had forged voter IDs and PAN cards.
A case has been registered against the accused under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 336(2), Section 336(3), and Section 338, as well as violations of the Indian Passport Act and Foreigners Act. SP Pankaj Deshmukh confirmed that the police are investigating how the accused entered India, the source of their fake documents, and their possible connections to larger networks facilitating illegal immigration.
The arrests have sparked a political reaction, with BJP leader Kirit Somaiya dubbing the incident as “Vote Jihad” on social media, further intensifying the spotlight on illegal immigration issues.
