SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA
Ranchi, Nov 12: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) today recovered various incriminating items, including fake Aadhars, forged passports, illegal arms, immovable property documents, cash, jewellery, printing papers, printing machines, and blank proformas used for forging Aadhaar cards in raids in connection with illegal Bangladeshi infiltration, conducted at 17 locations in Jharkhand and West Bengal.
These multiple raids are part of an ongoing money laundering probe linked to suspected Bangladeshi infiltration in Jharkhand.
The ED team is searching six places, including Hotel Skyline and Ashvi Diagnosis of Bariatu in Ranchi. The hotel register was searched in the presence of ED officials.
ED action ahead of Assembly elections
The ED’s action has come ahead of the first phase of the assembly elections in Jharkhand tomorrow.
Notably, the BJP has made the Bangladeshi infiltration a big election issue in Jharkhand, particularly in Santhal Pargana, in a bid to protect tribal identity. This issue has found traction in several constituencies, particularly those located in Santhal Pargana, where tribals are concerned with cultural preservation and land rights.
Illegal financial activities linked to infiltration
According to sources, the ED is examining individuals and organisations suspected of illegal financial activities linked to cross-border infiltration. Tuesday’s raids seek to uncover further links and financial records in these money laundering networks which facilitate infiltration, and the ED has also taken charge of the Bangladeshi infiltration case filed in Ranchi.
In September, the agency filed a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), based on an FIR lodged on June 6 at the Bariatu police station, to investigate an alleged incident involving the infiltration and trafficking of Bangladeshi women into Jharkhand, which reportedly led to the creation of slush funds.
Some women were arrested during the raid by Jharkhand Police in the prostitution case. After this, it was revealed in the investigation that those women were called from Bangladesh for prostitution. First, they were brought to Kolkata from Bangladesh. Then their fake identity cards were made and they were called to Ranchi. At the same time, according to the FIR, with the connivance of the agents, these girls were illegally made to cross the Bangladesh border through the forest. After which, with the help of those agents, fake documents of Indian citizenship of these Bangladeshis were made.
Considering the seriousness of the matter, the ED registered a case in Jharkhand to investigate the smuggling of Bangladeshi women, suspected infiltration and money laundering.
