In a major crackdown on illegal immigrants, the Njarackal police have arrested 11 natives of Bangladesh in the wee hours of Sunday. They were arrested for staying here without valid documents.
The Bangladeshi citizens were taken into custody based on an intelligence tip-off by the Njarackal police along with officials from the Special Branch. The officials said the Bangladeshi citizens have violated the provisions of Passport Act and the Foreigners Act. They were also charged with sections under IPC 471 and 474.
The police said the Bangladeshi citizens had no valid documents in possession and were staying there for some time, now. Apart from the local police, officials with the Special Branch will also interrogate the Bangladeshi natives to verify whether they have any other suspicious links, officials said. It’s learnt that they crossed the border without documents and were staying in Kochi under the pretext of West Bengal natives.
The arrested have been identified as Rafeequl Gasi, Rafiul Mulla, Babul Mulla, Gafoor Gasi, Ameedul Mulla, Mohammed Ameenul, Majam Mogam, Rasiul Mirsad, Anarul Islam, Habeebulla Gasi and Moibulla Gasi. They were working in a fishing company at Murukkumpadam, the Njarackal police said. They were produced before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court I, Thoppumpady and remanded, said the officials.