Illegal Bangladeshi immigrants found having Bharatiya passport, TN police issues security alert

Tamil Nadu police have issued a security alert following the discovery of Bangladeshis holding Bharatiya passports obtained through illegal means. They tried to pass themselves off as natives of West Bengal and to obtain identity documents. While some planned to go abroad others were caught indulging in drug peddling and other criminal activities.

Information has come out that a security alert has been issued by the TN police after illegal immigrants were found possessing Bharatiya identity documents like Aadhar and passports. Investigation revealed that these were Bangladeshis who infiltrated Bharat by claiming to be natives of West Bengal. The Hindu reported that the state police unit had issued a security alert as some of the illegal immigrants were found to be involved in criminal activities.

As per the findings of the police department, a sizable number of them have settled down in TN in recent years and most of them reside in Tirupur, Coimbatore, Erode, Chengalpet, Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur and Chennai. They told people that they were from West Bengal and found employment in hosiery, construction and other businesses prevalent in these cities with the help of local ‘agents’ , the report says.

After finding jobs they used fake credentials showing them as natives of West Bengal and obtained identity documents such as Aadhar, voter id, etc and used them to even open bank accounts and get Bharatiya passports. It is feared that they are availing government aid using these identity cards. Some of these foreigners are involved in drug peddling, circulating fake currency and other criminal activities. Police fear that they possess a threat to the country’s internal security.

The Hindu quoted a senior official as saying that the Director General of Police has issued instructions to Commissioners and Superintendents of all cities to locate illegally staying Bangladeshi immigrants in places under their jurisdiction and take action against them as per law. The report quoted him as saying, “A majority of the illegal immigrants are in the 20-35 age group and vulnerable to brainwashing by extremist elements. It is possible that they could be recruited by terrorist organisations to execute their evil designs”.

Last month a Bangladeshi national trying to pass off as a Bharatiya was caught by immigration officials in Coimbatore airport. He had a valid passport and Aadhar card but officials became suspicious as the address mentioned in both documents was in Kolkata. He gave contradictory answers during the investigation and was caught when the officials asked him to sing the national anthem. He has illegally entered Bharat through West Bengal and worked in TN as a tailor till 2020. Later he went to UAE and returned to Coimbatore with the hopes of settling down in the state.

It becomes clear from such recent incidents that Bangladeshi nationals prefer to settle in areas where people from the North are in majority to hide themselves better. It is unknown whether TN police is looking at it from this angle, but these illegal immigrants could be fomenting trouble in the society through criminal acts turning Tamils against North Bharatiyas. A negative sentiment against the latter, stoked by power hungry politicians, prevails in the state as it is. With such criminals on the loose it will make matters worse for even those who earn a honest living in the state.

Article by Maha Krishnan originally appeared on the Hindu Post republished here in a content sharing agreement with smart4bharat.com