Seven Bangladeshis living illegally for 15 years held in Mumbai's Andheri

In continuation of crackdown against illegal immigration Mumbai Police arrested seven Bangladeshi nationals who were allegedly living in India without valid documents for around 15 years reported IANSThe operation was carried out by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation MIDC Police in Andheri after officials received specific intelligence inputs about undocumented foreign nationals visiting the area in search of workBased on the information police laid a trap and detained the suspectsAccording to police the arrested group consists of four men two women and one minor boyInitial investigations suggest that the individuals had entered India illegally and had been living in Mumbai for nearly oneandahalf decade while avoiding detection by authorities reported the news agencyOfficials said the accused were in regular contact with relatives and associates in Bangladesh through phone callsInvestigation underwayPolice have launched a detailed investigation into the background movements and contacts of the arrested individualsAuthorities are also trying to identify people who may have helped them enter India find accommodation or secure jobs during their stay in MumbaiFurther inquiries are currently underway and more details are expected as the investigation progressesPart of wider crackdown across MaharashtraThe arrests come as Maharashtra Police continue a statewide campaign against undocumented Bangladeshi nationals allegedly residing illegally in different cities as per the news agencyIn recent months police have carried out several intelligencebased operations and verification drives to identify foreign nationals living in India without legal authorisationEarlier operation led to 25 arrestsA similar operation was conducted by Versova Police in February this year in Mumbais Yari Road area of Andheri West as per reportsDuring that drive police arrested 25 Bangladeshi nationals who were allegedly staying in India illegally The group included 21 transgender persons two women and two menAuthorities later began the process of deporting the detained individuals to BangladeshInvestigators alleged that the accused had entered India illegally through Kolkata before travelling through Delhi and Gujarat and eventually settling in MumbaiPolice claimed that after arriving in the city they obtained multiple fake Indian identity documents to establish residency and avoid detection reported the news agencyDuring the operation officers seized several Indian and Bangladeshi documents which are being examined as part of an investigation into alleged document fraud and illegal immigration networksEfforts to uncover larger networkAuthorities said investigations are continuing to determine the extent of illegal immigration and documentforgery networks operating in Maharashtra and other parts of the countryPolice are also working to identify individuals who may have assisted undocumented foreign nationals in obtaining housing employment and identity documentsWith IANS Inputs