25 Bangladeshi Nationals Detained in Versova Crackdown
In a significant operation targeting illegal immigration, Versova Police in Mumbai have apprehended 25 Bangladeshi nationals, including 21 transgender individuals. The arrests occurred following a routine patrol near Shakulshaha Dargah in the Versova area, where the group initially raised suspicion among officers.
Further interrogation and verification of electronic records confirmed their Bangladeshi nationality, according to police sources. The investigation remains active, with authorities indicating that additional arrests cannot be ruled out.
Senior Police Inspector Deepshikha Ware revealed that many of the detained individuals are believed to have entered India through indirect routes via Kolkata and Mizoram. Preliminary findings suggest several had resided in the country for six to eight years, establishing bases not only in Mumbai but also in parts of Gujarat and Delhi.
Officials noted that transgender persons in Bangladesh frequently encounter insecurity and social marginalisation, prompting some to migrate to India seeking better acceptance and equal rights.
This action marks the largest crackdown of its kind in Mumbai this year against suspected illegal Bangladeshi nationals, as reported.
In a related development in Pune, city police conducted a large-scale combing operation in the Budhwar Peth red-light area under the supervision of Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar to address illegal and unlawful activities. The drive involved heavy deployment, with officers inspecting 41 buildings, verifying the identities of 426 women and 290 men, and establishing nakabandis at five locations where 459 individuals and 32 vehicles were checked.
During the exercise, two suspected Bangladeshi women were identified and, along with some minor girls, taken to Faraskhana Police Station for safety and further verification. Legal procedures are ongoing in this case.
Additionally, police arrested a 31-year-old man and seized 7 grams of charas along with three injectable vials from him, leading to a case under the NDPS Act at Faraskhana Police Station.
These coordinated efforts highlight intensified police measures against illegal immigration and related offences in Maharashtra.