Chennai, July 20 (IANS) The Tamil Nadu Q Branch Police have arrested three Bangladeshi nationals who were allegedly living and working illegally at a scrap yard near Guduvancheri in Chengalpattu district after entering India without valid travel documents.
The arrests followed a tip-off received by the Chengalpattu Q Branch that a few workers employed at a scrap yard in Kannivakkam were suspected to be Bangladeshi nationals staying in the country illegally.
Acting swiftly on the information, a special police team conducted a surprise inspection at the premises, where around eight migrant workers from northern India were reportedly employed and staying.
During the inspection, officers questioned all the workers regarding their identity and place of origin.
Police said three of the workers initially claimed to be residents of West Bengal. However, inconsistencies in their statements prompted officials to subject them to further questioning, during which they allegedly admitted that they were Bangladeshi citizens.
The arrested men were identified as Zakir Bakkir (26), Abdul Salam Sitheri (28) and Arif Sitheri (25).
According to investigators, none of them was able to produce a passport, visa or any other valid travel or identity document to establish their legal presence in India.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the trio had crossed the India-Bangladesh border illegally several months ago.
Police suspect they entered Indian territory through an unfenced stretch of the border before travelling by road to Kolkata. From there, they are believed to have boarded a train to Chennai in search of employment.
After arriving in the Chennai suburban region, the three allegedly searched for daily wage work before securing jobs at the scrap yard in Kannivakkam, where they had been employed for some time.
Following the inquiry, the Q Branch registered a case against the three under provisions relating to illegal entry into and unauthorised stay in India. They were formally arrested and are being interrogated to determine the route they used to enter the country and whether they received assistance from any organised network or local facilitators.
Police said the investigation has now been expanded to identify others who may have helped the men obtain employment or shelter after their arrival.
Authorities are also stepping up surveillance across Chennai’s suburban areas to trace other foreign nationals who may be living or working illegally under the guise of migrant labourers.
–IANS
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