Dehradun police have detained a Bangladeshi woman who was allegedly living illegally in India using fake documents and a Hindu name. Police said she had been staying in the city by hiding her identity.
During Operation Kalnemi, a drive against people using false identities, the woman named Babli Begum (28) was found living in Patel Nagar under the fake name of Bhoomi Sharma. Officers checked her documents and became suspicious of her identity.
During questioning, Begum, originally from Bangladesh’s Gaybanda district, told police that she had entered India illegally during the Covid-19 pandemic and moved through several places before coming to Dehradun in 2021. She said she later settled in the city permanently.
She also told the police that she married a man from Dehradun in 2022 and then managed to get fake Indian identity documents under the name Bhoomi Sharma.
Police said she admitted to arranging these documents after her marriage.
The police found an Aadhaar card, Ayushman card, ration card, voter ID card, and other documents in the name of Bhoomi Sharma, along with a Bangladeshi identity card in the name of Babli Begum. All these documents have been taken into custody for investigation.
A case has been registered under relevant sections for illegally staying in India and creating fake documents, and she has been detained. Police said legal action is being taken as per procedure.
Police said they are also identifying the people who helped her obtain the fake documents, and strict action will be taken against them. They added that the network behind such cases is being closely examined.
Police also detained another suspected Bangladeshi woman from Kalinda Vihar Phase 2 in Patel Nagar, who identified herself as Bobby Khatun (41) from Bogura district in Bangladesh. Officers said she too appeared to be living under illegal circumstances.
Police said that during questioning, Khatun revealed she had secretly crossed into India in 2023 and had been living in Dehradun doing manual labour.
She had no valid documents to stay in the country.
Police recovered a photocopy of her Bangladeshi passport during the probe. They said she has been detained and will be deported to Bangladesh as per rules. Further verification of her movements is underway.
Last week, police also arrested Mamun Hasan, a Bangladeshi man living in Dehradun under the false name of Sachin Chauhan. Police said his arrest helped them uncover more such cases.
Under Operation Kalnemi, action has so far been taken against 17 Bangladeshi nationals living illegally in Dehradun district. Police said eight have been jailed for using fake documents, while nine have been deported.
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