The accused has been identified as Rehan. He came to Raipur with his parents at the age of about 5 years.
Raipur Police arrested a Bangladeshi national during a raid in the Sanjay Nagar area after receiving information about his alleged presence in the city.
The accused, identified as Rehan, had reportedly been living in Raipur for around 26 years and working as a vehicle mechanic. The case falls under the jurisdiction of Tikarapara police station.
Came to Raipur as a child
According to police, Rehan came to Raipur with his parents when he was around five years old and subsequently lived in the city for several years.
Last year, during a police campaign targeting alleged infiltrators, Rehan reportedly returned to Bangladesh along with his parents.
Returned to Raipur and allegedly stayed secretly
Police said Rehan returned to Raipur a few days ago and began staying in Sanjay Nagar without informing authorities. Acting on the information received, police conducted a raid on Monday (10 Aug) and arrested him.
The police are now trying to trace Rehan’s family members and are investigating his documents, movements and circumstances of his return to Raipur.
Police arrested the accused from Sanjay Nagar.
Accused lived in rented house and ran mechanic shop
The accused, identified by police as 31-year-old Sheikh Rehan, was living in a rented house in Sanjay Nagar and operated a small vehicle repair shop in the Tikrapara area.
Came to Raipur with parents in 2000
According to police, Rehan arrived in Raipur with his parents in 2000 when he was around five years old. He subsequently studied in the city and had been living in Raipur for nearly 26 years.
Police claim accused obtained Indian documents
Police said, “Rehan and his parents obtained several Indian documents while living in Raipur, including Aadhaar and ration cards.” Investigators also found that Rehan possessed an Indian passport.
Police further said, “He had been travelling to his ancestral village, Parvatipura in Bangladesh, on a visa. His documents and travel history are now being examined as part of the investigation.”
Tikarapara police are searching for the accused’s family members.
The accused escaped during a police raid last year
It is being claimed that during a campaign last year, Rehan went from Raipur to Kolkata with his parents and then by road to Bangladesh. After staying there for several months, he returned to India and started living in hiding at different places.
Upon receiving confirmed information, the police raided Sanjay Nagar on Monday and caught him. His documents and passport have been confiscated. The search for his parents is ongoing.
Last year, police caught a large number of Bangladeshi citizens from different districts of the state including Raipur.
Bangladeshi caught last month too
Last month in Sanjay Nagar, police also arrested Jamal Karim (42). According to police, Jamal came to Raipur with his parents in 2013. Before that, he was living in West Bengal. After coming to Raipur, he started a scrap business here.
According to police, Jamal was found with Aadhaar card and other Indian documents. His father had got his documents prepared. He also had Raipur’s Aadhaar card and residence certificate.
First wife in Bangladesh, second marriage in Odisha
According to police, Jamal is already married and his first wife lives in Bangladesh. Later, he married a second time in Odisha, from which he also has children.
When police launched a campaign against people living illegally, Jamal had moved to Odisha. He remained hidden there for some time. After returning to Raipur last month, police caught him from Sanjay Nagar.
Police have kept Bangladeshi citizens in the detention center at the jail.
Accused kept in jail’s detention center
Both accused have been kept in the detention center located at Raipur Central Jail. Police have sent information about both to the Home and Foreign Ministries.
According to police officials, both will be deported to Bangladesh after the process is completed. Action against illegal Bangladeshi citizens is also ongoing in Durg, Bijapur, Surguja and Rajnandgaon divisions.
Bangladeshi citizens Md. Ismail, Sheikh Akbar, Sheikh Sajan were arrested by ATS last year.
Bangladeshis caught in Durg, Bijapur and other places
Durg police also caught a Bangladeshi last month. However, he has been arrested. Bijapur police had issued a lookout circular.
He was caught just a few days ago. He has been kept in Raipur jail. Meanwhile, action against Bangladeshis is also underway in Surguja and Rajnandgaon divisions.
