13 Bangladeshi nationals held for illegal entry, stay in Coimbatore

Coimbatore: The Peelamedu police on Saturday arrested 13 Bangladeshi nationals for illegal entry and stay in India. All the arrested were produced before a judicial magistrate, who remanded them in judicial custody. They are now likely to be lodged in the Puzhal Central Prison.

A police officer identified the arrested people as Babu, 26, Sameer, 18, Sehak, 26, Alameen, 24, Jit Tone, 22, Sorif, 29, Boni, 30, Russel, 42, Mohammed Altaf, 45, Rakib, 22, Dida, 24, Arafat, 22, and Sayyon, 32, all natives of Bangladesh.

According to him, the 13 arrived in Coimbatore city on Friday morning and joined as labourers at a textile mill at Veeriyampalayam near Goldwins. "The textile mill management asked them to stay at the labourers' quarters located on the mill premises. When the management requested them to submit their identity proofs and residential address proofs, they replied that they would submit the same soon."

Meanwhile, Peelamedu police inspector Kandasamy and team received a tip about the illegal entry and stay of Bangladeshi nationals in the city. The team visited the textile mill on Saturday morning and picked them up for an inquiry.

Preliminary inquiry revealed that the 13 started their journey from Bangladesh a week ago and reached the city on Friday. "One of the arrested persons was in possession of an Aadhaar card, while the rest had identity proof from their home country," the officer said.

A Saravana Sundar, city police commissioner, said all the station house officers of the 20 police stations in the city were advised to collect the details of guest workers from the eastern and northern parts of the country. "Police officers have been directed to collect the address and identity proof of guest workers through their employers. We are checking their details with the help of our counterparts in other states as well. Bangladeshi nationals staying illegally in the city will be arrested," he said.