VISAKHAPATNAM/ELURU: The arrest of about 16 illegal immigrants from Bangladesh at Penugonda in East Godavari district last month, is proving to be the tip of an iceberg as continuing investigations point to the presence of a large number of illegal immigrants not only from Bangladesh but also from Sri Lanka in the Godavari districts as well as the north Coastal Andhra region. Preliminary investigations by the police revealed that more than 2,000 illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are residing in this region under the guise of workers from West Bengal and Tamil Nadu respectively.
While Hyderabad’s connection with Pakistan-based terror outfits is no secret, what has come as a surprise to the state police as well as the intelligence agencies is the increasing presence of Bengalis and Tamilians with no proper background records, in north Coastal Andhra region and the Godavari districts. This has also renewed concerns over the illegal immigrants in the region, particularly Visakhapatnam city which is cosmopolitan in nature with a mixed population of both north and south Indians.
Soon after the arrest of the 16 Bangladeshi illegal immigrants in Penugonda, the police have increased the vigil and are inquiring about people from northern states of India. Preliminary estimations found that at least 5,000 people from north Indian states migrated to West Godavari in search of work. “Apart from continuing the identification verification of these migrants, a preliminary report has been submitted to the Intelligence Bureau of the central government on the increasing presence of illegal migrants,” said West Godavari superintendent of police K Raghuram Reddy. The central intelligence agencies are already investigating the infiltration of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar into West Bengal.
Though the illegal immigrants, particularly the working class, are suspected to be turning the peaceful districts of East and West Godavari into their abodes for the last couple of years, Vizag is already one of the sought-after places for Bangladeshis and Sri Lankans. While the port city with about 20 lakh population comprises about two lakh north Indian population, particularly the Odiya and the Bengali communities, the police investigations revealed that several people who are suspected to be illegal migrants are living under the guise of Bengalis and Tamilians.
“Both the Bangladeshis and Sri Lankans are familiar with Bengali and Tamil respectively which makes it easy for them to mingle with these community people in Vizag. Though they are not part of the community activities, they can easily pass off as one. Some have even managed to obtain voter ID, ration card and also Aadhaar card, making it difficult for the police to verify their nationality” said a senior police officer in Visakhapatnam.
The police said that middlemen working from West Bengal are helping the illegal migrants to find jobs and settle down in Andhra Pradesh. Initially, they are smuggled into West Bengal without visas and other permissions. They are provided with identification documents including bank accounts in West Bengal where the immigrants deposit their savings. “After certain amount is collected, these middlemen help the workers to transfer their earnings to their families in Bangladesh through Hawala and other means,” said the officer.
