Are Kolkata Police on the Trail of Illegally Staying Foreign Nationals?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Foreign nationals are residing in Kolkata illegally after overstaying their visas.
- Many have acquired fake Indian identity documents.
- Authorities are focusing on nationals from Bangladesh and Pakistan.
- The situation raises serious national security concerns.
- Ongoing investigations aim to enforce immigration laws more effectively.
Kolkata, May 14 (NationPress) - The detectives from the Kolkata Police's Security Control Organisation are actively seeking out foreign nationals who entered the city with valid documents but have overstayed their visas.
According to sources within the police force, this new initiative was launched due to concerns that numerous foreign nationals have acquired fraudulent Indian identity documents, including Indian passports, through illicit means and are now living in the city as if they were Indian citizens.
Special attention is being given to nationals from Bangladesh and Pakistan who initially arrived with valid visas but failed to return home.
In the past six weeks, authorities have identified at least six individuals from these countries who managed to obtain fake Indian documents and are now permanently settled in Kolkata.
One of the most alarming cases involves Azad Mullick, a Pakistani national apprehended by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) last month. It was discovered that he first procured Bangladeshi citizenship using forged documents before relocating to Kolkata, where he subsequently acquired Indian identity documents, including a passport, through similar fraudulent means. He was also implicated in operating hawala and providing fake passports and visas for foreign nationals from his residence in northern Kolkata.
Additionally, earlier this month, the Security Control Organisation uncovered a family of four residing in Kolkata, all of whom held both Indian and Bangladeshi passports. The individuals are Vijay Modi, his wife Kasaulya Modi, and their sons Dilip Modi and Asish Modi.
The preliminary investigation indicated that they entered India with valid visas and settled in Palm Avenue in South Kolkata. However, they overstayed and subsequently arranged for fake Indian identity documents, beginning with AADHAAR and EPIC cards, ultimately securing Indian passports using fraudulent documents.
Furthermore, this month, authorities identified an original Bangladeshi national, Sheikh Ramzan, who was living in a rented property in Tangra, Kolkata. He too arrived with a legitimate visa, later obtaining Indian identity documents to live permanently in the city, masquerading as an Indian.