SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA
Ranchi, Nov 13: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) today arrested two Bangladeshi nationals namely Rony Mondal and Sameer Chowdhary and one Indian national Pintu Haldar in the Bangladeshi Infiltration case for facilitating illegal infiltration and human trafficking in India.
The ED also arrested Pinki Basu Mukherjee for facilitating illegal infiltration and human trafficking in India.
According to ED sources, they are being brought to Ranchi after getting transit remand from the court in Kolkata.
Notably, the ED yesterday 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 initiated investigation on the basis of an FIR registered by the Jharkhand Police under various Sections of IPC 1860, Passports Act 1967 and Foreigners Act, 1946. As per the aforesaid FIR, certain Bangladeshi Girls have crossed India –Bangladesh Border illegally, in connivance with certain private agents to do illegal & immoral activities in India. Further, the case relates to illegal infiltration of Bangladeshi citizens into India with the help of agents who are providing them fake documents establishing Indian Citizenship.
The ED investigation till now revealed that a syndicate operates extensively across West Bengal and Jharkhand, which is engaged in facilitating the Proceeds of Crime out of the above stated activities is corroborated from the seizure of mobile phones containing various incriminating chats relating to monetary transactions in lieu of above stated illegal activities including prostitution by these girls.
During the course of search operations, documents have also been recovered which contains the details/list of the payments in lieu of the prostitution racket being run by the above syndicate.
Further investigation is under progress, the ED added.
ED action ahead of Assembly elections
The ED’s action has come ahead of the first phase of the assembly elections in Jharkhand today.
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.
