Bangladeshi trio posing as migrant workers arrested in Kerala’s Kozhikode

KOZHIKODE: Three Bangladeshi nationals were arrested for allegedly entering India illegally and staying at a labour camp in Kozhikode district while posing as interstate migrant workers.The accused have been identified as Muhammed Vula Hussain, 47, Muhammed Hassan Ali, 27, and Muhammad Mahdi Hasan, 28.The arrests were made during a surprise inspection conducted by the Mavoor Police at Kalpally on Monday, following reports that Bangladeshi nationals were living among migrant workers in the area, news agency PTI reported.Police allege that the men crossed the border through unknown means, concealed their Bangladeshi nationality, and falsely claimed to be migrant workers from another Indian state.

Digital copies of Bangladeshi National Identity Cards were discovered on their mobile phones, confirming their citizenship.Upon being questioned in Hindi with the assistance of a bilingual officer, the accused admitted that they did not possess valid passports, visas, or any documents authorizing their entry or stay in India, PTI reported.Authorities recovered forged identity cards and SIM cards from the men, and investigators are currently probing how the SIM cards were obtained.

The three were initially held at the Mavoor Police Station and subsequently transferred to the Kozhikode Special Branch office for further interrogation.A case has been registered under Section 3(1) read with Section 21 of the Foreigners Act for illegal entry and stay.Police stated that the investigation is ongoing to determine who employed the men and whether anyone facilitated their stay or assisted them in obtaining forged documents. Additionally, inspections in the Mavoor area will be intensified to identify other foreign nationals residing in the region without valid documentation.(With agency inputs)