A 26-year-old Bangladeshi woman, who allegedly escaped civil unrest in her homeland and later became entangled in a prostitution ring in Chennai, has been arrested for illegally entering India. The Chennai police also apprehended her boyfriend, Mohammad Yasin Mia, for forging documents to falsely claim that she was a resident of Agartala, Tripura. Authorities are now searching for two of Mia’s associates involved in the prostitution racket.
The Bangladeshi woman is said to have crossed into India illegally to reunite with Mia during the recent turmoil in Bangladesh. She stayed with him for ten days in Agartala, where Mia forged documents to present her as an Indian citizen. The couple then travelled to Chennai, where Mia was reportedly involved in human trafficking with his friends, Kapil and Rumki. They arranged accommodation for the couple in a rented house in Adambakkam.
According to police sources, Mia and his associates pressured the woman into prostitution to cover their daily expenses. Initially reluctant, she eventually agreed but protested when customers visited her day and night. After she expressed a desire to return to Agartala, Mia reportedly locked her inside the house when he left. Seizing an opportunity when the door was left open, she escaped and took an autorickshaw to the Guindy police station, where she reported the situation.
Following her complaint, a police team led by Inspector Vimal arrested Mia from the Adambakkam house while his accomplices Kapil and Rumki remain at large. Upon questioning, Mia revealed that Afra was from Bangladesh, and police verification confirmed her documents were forged.
The woman was arrested under the Foreigners Act for illegally entering and residing in India without valid documentation. Mia and the woman were produced before a magistrate and remanded to judicial custody as the investigation continues.
(With inputs from TOI)
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