Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Oct 1: The Anti-Terrorism Cell (ATC) of Khar police arrested six Bangladeshi nationals, including three women, for allegedly entering India illegally and staying in Bhayandar without valid passports, travel documents or visas.
Police said the six were detained around 3 pm on September 29 after they were found behaving suspiciously near Bandra Traffic Chowki on SV Road. An officer reportedly recognised some of them from earlier action against illegal immigration. Four of the six had allegedly been deported to Bangladesh previously.
The arrested persons were identified as Iqbal Akbarali Shaikh alias Gautam Sunil Datta (35), Rana Molla Imdadul Molla alias Rana Shah (20), Samim Mizanur Sardar alias Raju Narendra (25), Mosamod Munjila Khatun alias Sila Sardar alias Riya Datta (23), Mafuja Akthar Lima alias Kavita Shah (25) and Halima Akthar alias Monica Datta (26).
Police said deportation proceedings had been initiated against five of them, while a case was registered against Iqbal under Section 24 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.
Iqbal is accused of facilitating the entry of the five others into India, arranging accommodation and helping them find employment. Police recovered photocopies of Bangladeshi identity documents or a birth certificate and seized four mobile phones, each valued at Rs 5,000.
During questioning, Iqbal allegedly told police that he had been travelling between Bangladesh and India for around five years. Police records also showed that he was out on bail in an earlier case relating to his alleged illegal entry and stay in India.
According to police, Halima told investigators that she had entered India around six months ago with Iqbal's assistance. The other four allegedly said they crossed the Bangladesh border on September 20 without valid documents and paid Iqbal, whose associates helped them enter India.
Police said Iqbal subsequently connected the five with agents who arranged accommodation at the Golden Nest and Geeta Sarovar buildings in Bhayandar and helped them secure jobs. They were allegedly employed as labourers, domestic workers and beauty parlour staff.
Police are also seeking orders to restrict the movement of the five until they are deported.
DCP (Mumbai Crime) Raj Tilak Roshan said 1,066 Bangladeshi nationals allegedly staying illegally in India had been deported up to the end of August 2026, compared with 1,061 in 2025 and 164 in 2024.
Since 2024, Mumbai Police have registered 658 cases and arrested 995 people allegedly residing illegally in the city.