Bangladeshi illegal immigrants: Police on high alert in Dakshina Kannada; Over 4,000 migrants interrogated

Team Udayavani, Oct 13, 2024, 8:17 AM IST

Mangaluru: Following the arrest of a Bangladeshi national at Mangaluru International Airport while attempting to fly to Dubai with a fake passport, the local police have increased their vigilance. Based on information provided by the arrested individual, authorities apprehended several Bangladeshi nationals in Udupi, which has prompted heightened security in Mangaluru as well.

Police officials have stated that suspicious individuals are under surveillance, and operations will be carried out in the coming days. Employers hiring migrant workers from other states have been instructed to verify documents thoroughly. If workers from Bangladesh or other foreign countries are found to be employed illegally, action will be taken against the employers, the police warned.

While suspicions persist regarding the presence of Bangladeshi nationals working in the coastal region, no additional arrests have been made so far with concrete evidence. In Dakshina Kannada, sectors like construction, fishing, ports, sand mining, and industries have seen an influx of workers from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, and West Bengal. Jobs once held by local workers or those from North Karnataka are now largely filled by migrants from northern parts of India.

Fake Aadhaar Cards?

According to sources, all the migrant workers possess Aadhaar cards issued from their respective states, which employers often consider as sufficient proof while hiring. However, the lack of thorough verification of these documents is emerging as a major problem. As a result, authorities are unable to identify the true origins of many individuals. It has also been reported that middlemen are facilitating the creation of fake Aadhaar cards.

Interrogation of 4,000 Migrant Workers

In 2022, police across various stations in the city gathered information on migrant workers from northern states. Over 4,000 individuals were interrogated at that time, and 518 of them, deemed suspicious, were subjected to further questioning. However, no Bangladeshi nationals were identified during this operation.

The arrested Bangladeshi national is currently undergoing intense questioning at the airport, with officials hoping to extract more information. Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal stated that further checks related to Bangladeshi nationals will be intensified within the commissionerate’s jurisdiction in the coming days.

Dakshina Kannada District Superintendent of Police Yathish N. added that no specific information is available about Bangladeshi nationals residing in the district. However, the police are actively working on the matter, and any suspicious individuals will be detained and interrogated.

The Bangladeshi national, identified as Mohammad Manik, was caught due to his poor command of Hindi. Immigration officers at the airport grew suspicious when they noticed that his spoken Hindi was not fluent. Upon further questioning, Manik revealed his true identity. He was found carrying a Bangladeshi passport, and during interrogation, it was revealed that he had obtained a fake Indian passport from Udupi.

Mohammad Taken into Police Custody

Mangaluru: The arrested Bangladeshi national, Mohammad Manik, has been placed in police custody for a week. A case has been registered at Bajpe police station, and officers have begun their investigation after presenting him before a judge.

At around 5:45 PM on Friday, Mohammad Manik approached Immigration Counter No. 6 at Mangaluru International Airport, where he presented an Indian passport and other documents. When officials grew suspicious about the validity of the documents, they took him in for questioning. Mohammad Manik hails from Manik Chowk, Rajshahi District, Bangladesh.

It was discovered that Manik, who holds Bangladeshi National Identity Card No. 601, had entered India in 2017 through the India-Bangladesh border at Lalgoal in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district. He reportedly traveled to Udupi via Kolkata, Howrah, Chennai, and Mangaluru.