NAVI MUMBAI: The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) team of the Navi Mumbai crime branch apprehended two agents, including a woman, for helping illegal Bangladeshi nationals open bank accounts using forged documents. They handed over the custody of the duo to Meghalaya police, who arrived in the city with a non-bailable arrest warrant. This action followed the arrest of 20 Bangladeshis who escaped from Navi
Mumbai to Meghalaya due to the combing operation and arrest of Bangladeshis by Navi Mumbai police.
ACP (Crime) Ajay Landge stated, "As per the orders of Police Commissioner Milind Bharambe and higher authorities, a continuous combing operation is being carried out to apprehend Bangladeshis residing illegally in the jurisdiction of Navi Mumbai Police Commissionerate. Consequently, several illegal Bangladeshis have secretly left Navi Mumbai. Recently, Meghalaya police arrested around 20 Bangladeshis who had left Navi Mumbai and were living illegally in Meghalaya. The arrested Bangladeshis revealed the names of two agents from Navi Mumbai, who helped them open bank accounts using forged documents, thus enabling the account holders to carry out transactions."
ACP Landge added, "As Meghalaya police approached Navi Mumbai police for help to arrest the duo agents, using technical expertise, they were arrested. While the agent woman, Nusrat Kazi, was arrested from her Koparkhairane residence on March 13, the other agent, Jabir Shaikh, was arrested from his Ulwe residence on April 15."
Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Milind Bharambe appealed to the public that if illegal Bangladeshi nationals are given houses on rent or are employed, the concerned landlords and employers will be booked as co-accused under the provision of the Registration of Foreigners Act 1939, informed ACP Landge.