8 Bangladeshi nationals held

Police arrested 8 Bangladeshi nationals from Bamongola area in Malda on Monday for illegally intruding into India. Police are yet to ascertain their motive behind entering into the Indian Territory. Police are investigating whether the accused were involved with any terrorists outfits. Acting on a tip-off, the senior police officers in the districts raided the Bamongola area and arrested the accused. They were arrested from a hide-out.

According to the preliminary investigation, the district police suspect that there were some other persons who might have fled the spot during the police raid.

The police are conducting raids in the nearby areas to nab the culprits. The police also interrogated the local people in this connection. Police are not, however, convinced  by the statements of the accused.

It may be mentioned that in last one month, many such Bangladeshi nationals have been arrested from various parts of the state which is arousing the suspicion of the state intelligence agencies that they might have been involved with some extremist outfits. Police have started a detailed probe in this connection.

Few days ago, the police had arrested nine Bangladeshi national, including a woman, from Anantapur area in Basirhat for illegally intruding into Indian Territory.

They did not rule out that possibility of them being involved in illegal activities in the border areas. They came from Sathkhira in Bangladesh without any valid documents. It may be mentioned that Burdwan district police also arrested a Bangladeshi national few days ago.

The repeated incidents of illegal intrusion of Bangladeshis raised a question mark on the role of BSF jawans who patrol the area along the Indo – Bangladesh border in the area. Police are also investigating if the accused had any involvement with anti-national activities.