Visakhapatnam becomes safe haven for illegal migrants

Visakhapatnam: The recent arrest of three Bangladeshi nationals in the city for cheating Vizagites in the guise of offering US dollars at cheaper exchange rate has doubled the suspicion that Bangladeshis are entering into coastal Andhra Pradesh and staying illegally.

The Bangladeshi nationals, with support from Malda area of West Bengal, are circulating fake Indian currency notes in Vizag and surrounding areas.

Cops suspect the role of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in Vizag and other parts of the region behind the circulation of fake currency and are drawing an action plan to nab them.

For the first time, Vizag cops (City Task Force police) arrested three of a four-member Bangladeshi gang - Mohammed Halal, a native of Sylhet city, Mohammed Masud Rana of Bagerhat district and Hasina of Sunamganj district for cheating Vizagites.

Cops recovered seven notes of US$20 denomination and four notes of US$1 denomination and '29,210 notes. However, the main accused Bilal Shaik, is still absconding.

The investigation revealed that the gang entered Vizag around six months back and stayed in a rented house at Kancharapalem in the city.

Sources in the police department said that there are 752 foreigners, including 279 students from 52 countries, staying in Vizag city on various types of visas. But none from Bangladesh and Pakistan are staying legally in the city.

Sources also said that illegal immigrants from Bangladesh are entering India by bribing Border Guard Bangladesh and Border Security Force (BSF) on the Indian side.

Later, by train route from Malda they are entering into Odisha and coastal Andhra Pradesh and are even securing ID cards such as voter identity cards.

Some have even made Vizag city and surrounding areas their home. There are some in the city who claim to be natives of West Bengal but they speak a different dialect.

“I have encountered many such people doing odd jobs in the city who shy away from talking in Bengali, do not understand Hindi or Telugu and act in a manner which invokes suspicion,” says a retired Merchant Navy officer in the city on condition of anonymity.

DGP J. V. Ramudu in his recent visit to Vizag said that fake currency gangs in the state have links with Bangladeshi nationals as the gangs have been obtaining the FICN which are being printed in Bangladesh or Pakistan.