Eight Bangladeshi nationals were detained by the Surathkal Police in Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada district after they were allegedly found staying illegally in India and working at a construction site in Mukka, within the jurisdiction of the Surathkal Police Station.
According to the police, the action was taken following credible information about the presence of suspected illegal immigrants at the construction site. A police team conducted a raid and verified the identity documents of 54 labourers working at the site. During the verification, eight workers were identified as Bangladeshi nationals who had allegedly entered India without valid travel documents.
The detained individuals have been identified as Mohammed Mukthar Ali (36), Mohammed Rakhibur Hossen (44), Mohammed Ajarul Islam (36), Mohammed Zahid Hosen (18), Mohammed Belal Hossain (36), Mohammed Hasibul Hasan Shanto (37), Mohammed Samuel Hasan (23), and Mohammed Saibul Rahman. Police said all of them are natives of Rajshahi, Bangladesh.
During the preliminary investigation, the police found that the eight men had allegedly crossed into India through Murshidabad in West Bengal around three months ago without passports or visas. Investigators alleged that they subsequently obtained forged Aadhaar cards by affixing their photographs onto Aadhaar cards bearing addresses in Murshidabad. According to the police, the documents were colour photocopies that were later used as identity proof.
Police further stated that the group had been residing in Mangaluru for the past two months and had secured employment as construction labourers at the Mukka site.
During questioning, officials examined National Identity Cards, birth certificates, and documents relating to the detainees’ family members. The police said these documents confirmed that the individuals were Bangladeshi nationals.
Mangaluru City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy said that a report had been submitted to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in Bengaluru, which would initiate the legal process for their deportation.
Commissioner Reddy also said that the detained men had produced the forged Aadhaar cards to the contractor while seeking employment. However, he added that the investigation had so far found no evidence to suggest that the contractor was aware that the workers were Bangladeshi nationals or that they had entered India illegally.
Further investigation is underway.
Subscribe to our channels on WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram and YouTube to get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
