The Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad’s crackdown on illegal Bangladeshi immigrants continued on Thursday, with the arrest of eight alleged illegal immigrants living in Kandivali, as well as a West Bengal native who allegedly harboured them.
An ATS officer said, “We received information about some illegal Bangladeshi immigrants staying in areas like Kandivali and Malwani and zeroed in on eight accused staying in Kandivali. They were picked up for questioning and were found to be staying in India without any valid travel documents. Two of them were also had PAN cards.”
Their interrogation led the ATS to an Indian national from Kandivali, who allegedly helped the illegal immigrants secure jobs in workshops that assemble electronic appliances.
ATS officers said the accused hails from the 24 Paraganas district in West Bengal, and the possibility of him, or his accomplices in West Bengal, having helped the immigrants enter the country cannot be denied.
All nine accused were produced in court and remanded in the custody of the ATS till March 31.
This is the third case this month where the ATS have arrested illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and Indian nationals helping them.
