Three Bangladeshi nationals convicted for illegal stay in country; were nabbed from Thane

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A Thane court convicted three Bangladeshi nationals for illegal stay in India and sentenced them to a period of stay in jail after being caught in January this year, reported news agency PTI.

In his order of October 30, the details of which were made available on Monday, Additional Sessions Judge AS Bhagwat held Mohamad Babul Shamshuddin Mulla (43), Mohamad Tuhin Mohamad Mijanul Mulla (24) and Rana Abdul Malik Shaikh (24) guilty under Passport (Entry into India) Rules and Foreigners Order, reported PTI.

The three, hailing from Nodain district of Bangladesh, were held by Shil Daighar police from Uttarshiv Naka in Padale area of Thane on January 26, reported PTI.

On October 30, the charges were framed, following which the three pleaded guilty and sought a lenient sentence.

Considering the fact that the accused have been in jail for more than nine months, leniency in sentencing is required, the court said in its order, reported PTI.

While the offences they have been charged with carry a maximum punishment of five years, the court sentenced them to the time they had already spent in jail, which was nine months and four days.

Bangladeshi man jailed for 8 years in rape case; two more get 5 years over illegal stay in India

In another incident, a sessions court in Maharashtra's Thane district has sentenced a Bangladeshi national to eight years in prison after holding him guilty in a rape case, reported news agency PTI.

In his order of October 24, a copy of which was made available on Friday, Additional Sessions Judge, Belapur, Parag A Sane also handed 5-year imprisonment to the man's wife and another person for illegally staying in India, reported PTI.

All three convicted individuals are to be deported to Bangladesh upon the completion of their sentences.

According to the prosecution, Joshim Sobur Mulla (26) was accused of raping two minor girls trafficked from Bangladesh. Acting on a tip-off by an NGO, the police had rescued the survivors in 2017, reported PTI.

While the court convicted Joshim for rape under the Indian Penal Code, it did not hold him guilty under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, as the prosecution could not prove the age of the two female survivors, reported PTI.

The court also dropped charges of human trafficking and procuring girls for illicit intercourse against Joshim, his wife Murshida and one Jana Rabul Mulla.

Besides convicting Joshim in the rape case, the court held that Murshid and Jana had violated the Passport and Foreigners Acts and sentenced them to 5 years of imprisonment, reported PTI.

Special Public Prosecutor Yogendra Patil said 12 prosecution witnesses were examined during the trial.

Five other persons, who were accused of being involved in a prostitution racket that exploited the two Bangladeshi survivors, were acquitted of all charges, including kidnapping, trafficking, and offences registered under POCSO, reported PTI.

The judge found the evidence against these co-accused to be "very weak in nature" and "not reliable".

(With inputs from PTI)