In a significant operation carried out by local police, ten Bangladeshi nationals — comprising six women and four men — were apprehended in the Dhantala area of Nadia district as they tried to illegally cross back into Bangladesh. Authorities confirmed that none of these individuals possessed any valid travel or identification documents.
The arrest took place on Sunday during a targeted raid conducted by a special police team in Kulgachi village, situated within the Bahirgachi gram panchayat jurisdiction, under Dhantala police station in the Ranaghat police district. This action was initiated following intelligence inputs received from reliable sources about suspicious movement near the international border.
According to police reports, the group was caught red-handed near the Gauribagh Bridge while attempting to cross the border into Bangladesh. Upon interrogation, the detainees disclosed that they had initially entered West Bengal approximately one year ago through the Nadia border, assisted by Indian brokers who facilitated their illegal entry.
Further investigations revealed that since their entry, these individuals had been living in various Indian states, falsely claiming West Bengal residency. They engaged in employment across multiple sectors, blending into local populations. However, due to heightened surveillance measures by the central government and increased vigilance from state authorities, they decided recently to return to Bangladesh.
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In the days leading up to their arrest, the group was reportedly taking refuge in Kulgachi village, likely planning their border crossing carefully. Following their capture, all ten were charged under the Foreigners Act. They were produced before the Ranaghat court on Monday, where the presiding judge granted police custody for ten days to facilitate further investigation.
The arrested individuals have been identified as: Farzana Mollah, Nazmin Mollah, Adari Mollah, Rikta Mollah, Sathi Mollah, Rabia Mollah, Shamim Mollah, Murad Mollah, Iqbal Mollah, and Azim Mollah.
Police and intelligence agencies have indicated that the Dhantala area has witnessed a growing trend in illegal infiltration attempts. There is a well-organized smuggling and trafficking network reportedly run by Indian brokers who profit by charging large sums to facilitate these unauthorized border crossings. This illicit network is believed to be active not only in Nadia but also in neighboring districts such as Murshidabad and North 24 Parganas.
A senior officer from the Ranaghat police district commented on the issue, stating, “Merely sending these infiltrators back across the border will not resolve the problem. The core issue lies with the broker network operating this illegal trade. Until this syndicate is dismantled, such incidents will persist. We are intensifying our efforts and taking strict action to disrupt their operations.”
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