Illegal Stay: 21 Bangladeshis Arrested in Pune

Police in Pune have arrested 21 Bangladeshi nationals residing illegally. The group, including 15 men, four women, and two third-gender individuals, worked primarily at construction sites. Preliminary investigations suggest some have been in India for up to ten years. Fake identity documents were recovered.

Police in Pune have apprehended 21 Bangladeshi nationals who were residing illegally within the Ranjangaon area, according to a senior official statement on Tuesday.

The group, comprising 15 men, four women, and two individuals from the third gender, primarily worked as laborers at construction sites in Karegaon, over 50 kilometers from Pune.

The Anti-Terrorism Cell of the Pune rural police, acting on a tip-off, discovered that many of these individuals had been living in India for periods ranging from six months to a decade. Fake identification documents, including voter ID cards, UIDAI cards, and PAN cards, were found in possession of some. Police are investigating potential involvement in an organized illegal immigration racket.

(With inputs from agencies.)