In a significant operation, Bengaluru police have apprehended ten Pakistani nationals, comprising six women, for allegedly living in India under false identities. The suspects were taken into custody in Jigani on Tuesday. This latest arrest brings the total number of individuals detained in connection with this case to 18. Prior to this, police had nabbed seven Pakistani nationals found illegally residing in the Jigani and Peenya areas of Bengaluru.
The recent wave of arrests follows the capture of Parvez Ahmad, described by authorities as the alleged kingpin behind the operation. Ahmad was apprehended three days ago at the Bengaluru railway station and is believed to have facilitated the illegal settlement of these individuals in India. His arrest has proved crucial, as it has provided police with critical information regarding the network that supported these illegal activities.
Based on the leads obtained from Ahmad’s interrogation, a police team led by Anekal Sub-Division Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Mohan Kumar and Jigani Circle Inspector Manjunath undertook an extensive search that spanned several states. The team travelled to locations in Delhi, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, resulting in the capture of the remaining suspects.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Mehanoor, Nusrat, Farzana, Ruksana, Amida, and Nausan—all women—along with Farhaaz, Safiq Rahman, Saif Ali, and Salim Khan. The group included five individuals who were residing in Delhi, three from Ajmer in Rajasthan, and one from Uttar Pradesh. Police investigations have revealed that all the arrested suspects were associated with a religious leader, Younus Algor, and were promoters of his Mehdi Foundation.
Following their arrest, the suspects underwent a medical examination at the Anekal Government Hospital under tight security. Subsequently, they were presented before a local court, where they were remanded to 14 days of judicial custody.
Earlier in the investigation, police had arrested four members of one family in Anagha Layout, Raja Pura, in Anekal taluk, alongside three members of another family in Peenya, Bengaluru. As the investigation unfolds, police sources indicate that further arrests may be forthcoming. This stems from ongoing inquiries into Parvez Ahmad’s activities, which suggest connections to approximately 63 Pakistani nationals who illegally entered India in 2007 and have since been living under assumed identities across various states.
According to police reports, Ahmad allegedly assisted these individuals in acquiring essential documents, including Aadhaar cards and passports, which facilitated their permanent residency in India. It has been reported that many of these individuals entered India through Bangladesh, making their way into various regions under the radar of law enforcement.
The police operation has raised serious questions about the extent of illegal immigration and the support systems in place that allow such activities to continue unchecked. Authorities are now scrutinising the documentation process that enabled these Pakistani nationals to secure identity papers and are examining the roles played by various organizations that may have inadvertently facilitated this situation.
The arrests have sparked a debate about national security, particularly concerning the potential risks posed by individuals entering the country illegally. Officials are keen to ensure that this incident is thoroughly investigated to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The ongoing inquiry aims to dismantle any networks that could jeopardise national safety and to reinforce the mechanisms that regulate immigration and residency status.
As investigations continue, the police are focusing on identifying any additional individuals connected to the operation, with the objective of gathering a comprehensive understanding of the illegal immigration pathways that were exploited.
In summary, the recent arrests in Bengaluru underline the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in managing illegal immigration and securing the borders of India. With ongoing investigations and more arrests expected, the authorities are keen to resolve the issue and restore order within the immigration system.