In a major crackdown on illegal employment and identity fraud, 29 Bangladeshi nationals were arrested on 24 May 2025 from a private textile mill located in Vagarai village, near Oddanchatram in Dindigul district. The arrests followed a tip-off that non-Indian citizens were working in the facility using forged identification documents.
A team led by Oddanchatram DSP Karthikeyan and Inspector Thangaraj conducted a surprise inspection at the mill, which manufactures inner garments primarily for export. The unit, operating under contract-based employment, had hired workers from various Indian states including Bihar, Odisha, Assam, Chhattisgarh, and West Bengal.
During the inspection, it was discovered that 29 individuals were illegally residing and working at the mill while possessing fake Aadhaar cards to impersonate Indian citizens. The men were detained, medically examined, and had their biometric data collected before being produced before the Oddanchatram Magistrate Court, which remanded them to judicial custody.
Police sources revealed that this is the first recorded instance of foreign nationals being employed in such a manner in the area, where most mills typically hire Indian workers from other states. The Bangladeshi workers were reportedly housed in dormitory-style accommodations within the mill premises.
A case has been registered by the Kallimandayam police under relevant charges including possession of fake identification. Senior officials from the district administration have initiated steps to ensure that all mills and commercial establishments provide full disclosure of non-local workers on their rolls.
Investigations are ongoing to trace the agents responsible for facilitating the illegal employment and document forgery.
(With inputs from The Hindu)
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