In a major security lapse, 75 Bangladeshi nationals arrested in Tamil Nadu over the past year have disappeared after securing bail, raising concerns over the enforcement of immigration laws. These individuals were among approximately 175 foreign nationals apprehended for illegal stay and travel without valid documents.
The disappearance has occurred despite a Supreme Court directive issued on 6 January 2025, which states that foreign nationals facing criminal charges in India cannot be allowed to leave the country. According to standard procedure, such individuals should have been transferred to the special camp in Tiruchy, where foreign nationals involved in crimes in Tamil Nadu are detained until deportation.
Officials explained that even after securing bail, these individuals were supposed to remain in the special camp until deportation, and efforts were being made to obtain the necessary orders to ensure their transfer.
DT Next reported that according to a senior officer, all arrested foreign nationals are initially remanded to Puzhal Central Prison near Chennai. Before they are granted bail, investigating officers are required to submit a request to the State Public Department—through the Q-Branch or the Foreign Regional Registration Office (FRRO)—seeking approval to transfer them to the Tiruchy special camp under the provisions of the Foreigners Act. However, this transfer can only take place if the Public Department issues a government order (GO) for each individual.
Sources indicated that in this case, the necessary GOs were not issued, allowing the foreign prisoners to walk free upon securing bail without any requirement to return.
Intelligence agencies at both the state and central levels estimate that thousands of Bangladeshi nationals are staying illegally in Tamil Nadu, particularly in suburban Chennai and industrial hubs like Tirupur, Coimbatore, Perundurai, and Salem. Many of them reportedly claim to be from West Bengal and use forged Aadhaar and other identity documents to support their claims.
Officials also suspect that a significant number of these individuals could be Rohingya Muslims who fled persecution in Myanmar and entered India via Bangladesh.
Authorities are now under pressure to tighten monitoring and enforcement to prevent further security breaches and unauthorized migration in the state.
(With inputs from DT Next)
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