Fake Passport Racket Busted: Kolkata Police Alerts Immigration, Customs Against 69 Bangladeshi Nationals

The Kolkata (Uttam Hindu): Kolkata Police has issued lookout notices against 69 Bangladeshi intruders who had obtained Indian passports by presenting fake documents after illegally entering the country at different times. The lookout notices have been issued amid apprehensions that these 69 infiltrators are still hiding in the country, especially in West Bengal, and may flee to other countries. The move comes amid the busting of a fake passport racket in the state and their identities being revealed during the investigation. The concerned departments, including immigration, customs and various border security agencies in the country, have been alerted. City police sources said the details of these 69 Bangladeshi infiltrators have been provided to the agencies.

Investigating officers suspect that these illegal Bangladeshi intruders may be of two categories. The first category includes those who are basically 'economic refugees' and their intention of coming to India is to find ways to earn their livelihood. The second category may include those who have links with underground terror groups operating from Bangladesh and may have entered India with other nefarious intentions including setting up sleeper cells in West Bengal. Last week, Kolkata police filed a chargesheet in a trial court in Kolkata regarding a fake Indian passport racket operating from West Bengal. The chargesheet names a total of 130 persons, of which 120 are Bangladeshi residents and the rest are Indian citizens. The main allegation against the Bangladeshi nationals is that they made fake Indian passports by submitting forged documents and paying huge amounts of money. The allegation against the accused Indian nationals is that they helped arrange fake Indian identity documents, including passports, for these illegal Bangladeshi intruders.