West Bengal

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; South 24 Parganas, June 3: Police in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district have detained 18 Bangladeshi nationals from the Godabar area under the jurisdiction of Kultali Police Station during a special early-morning operation. The group includes 12 adult men and women and six children. According to police, none of those detained possessed valid documents proving legal entry or residence in India.

Police launched a targeted raid at a local brick kiln in the Godabar area of Kultali during the early hours of Wednesday. During the operation, officers detained a total of 18 individuals suspected of being Bangladeshi nationals residing illegally in the country.

Police officials stated that among those detained, 12 are adults while the remaining six are minors. Preliminary investigations suggest that the group had entered India by crossing the international border without authorization and had been living in the country for several years. Authorities believe that the individuals had established themselves in the region and were working locally during their stay.

The detainees reportedly admitted that they had entered India illegally through the assistance of an organized human trafficking and smuggling network operating along the international border. Investigators said the group revealed that they crossed the border by bypassing border fencing and security measures with the help of influential brokers and middlemen.

The detainees allegedly paid varying amounts to border-based agents and traffickers to facilitate their entry into India. The payments reportedly ranged from ₹5,000 to as much as ₹30,000 per person, depending on the arrangements made for crossing the Bangladesh-India border.

Police have initiated a detailed investigation into the case and are attempting to identify the individuals and networks involved in facilitating the illegal crossings. Authorities are also verifying the backgrounds of the detainees and examining whether similar trafficking operations are active in the region.

The incident has once again brought attention to concerns over illegal cross-border movement and the activities of organized smuggling networks operating along the international border. Further legal action will be taken based on the outcome of the ongoing investigation.