- विज्ञापन -
Kolkata: The Kolkata Police have ramped up efforts to monitor non-resident Indians (NRIs) with permanent addresses in West Bengal, who are suspected of working overseas with counterfeit Indian passports.
Sources indicate that the police have reached out to the embassies and high commissions of several countries, including three in Europe, where these individuals are believed to be employed, in order to verify their current locations and legal statuses.
Investigations reveal that many of those claiming to have ties to West Bengal are, in fact, illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. They allegedly entered India unlawfully and obtained fake Indian identity documents, including passports, to facilitate their travel abroad.
To curb further evasion, the Kolkata Police have issued lookout notices for identified individuals suspected of possessing fraudulent passports linked to West Bengal.
Additionally, sources from the West Bengal Police have pointed out the involvement of organized passport forgery rings primarily operating in the South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, and Nadia districts. These regions, which share porous land and coastal borders with Bangladesh, are particularly vulnerable to illegal activities.
South 24 Parganas, due to its coastal proximity to Bangladesh, is especially at risk.
Investigators have discerned a systematic approach in the operations of these rackets, which facilitate the acquisition of fake Indian passports for illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. After crossing into India unlawfully, these infiltrators connect with local agents and pay substantial sums to obtain fake identity documents. Initially, they receive safe housing in border villages.
The process begins with acquiring fake ration cards, which serve as the basis for obtaining other identity documents like Voter IDs (EPIC), PAN cards, and Aadhaar cards. These documents are then used to secure counterfeit Indian passports, allowing the infiltrators to leave the country under false identities.
