24 Bangladeshis living in Bhiwandi deported

THANE: Twenty-four Bangladeshi nationals residing in Bhiwandi were deported to Bangladesh on Monday.

The Bhi wan di Judicial Magistrate First Class court directed the anti- human trafficking cell to deport the 24 people, comprising 18 men and six women, as they were residing illegally in Bhiwandi, said officials.

Officials of the anti- human trafficking cell boarded the Howrah Express along with the 24 people, who were then taken to the Kalyani border and Amodiya border, near Kolkata, to be extradited to Bangladesh.

“The Bangladeshi nationals were staying illegally in huts they built at Bhiwandi for the past six months and were working at a loom factory in Bhiwandi,” said sub-inspector Pandurang Ghadge of the antihuman trafficking cell.

“The 24 were arrested a few months ago for staying illegally in the country. They were produced in court, which awarded them four months in jail and a fine of Rs1,000 each,” he added.

The police have warned factories against hiring such people, who come to the city looking for jobs.

“These workers were employed by the factories without the owners verifying their details. We have alerted many loom factory owners to take precautionary measures or else legal action will be taken against them too,” added Ghadge.

Senior police inspector Shakil Shaikh of the anti-human trafficking cell said, “Job opportunities and the quest for a better life have forced several Bangladeshis to cross the border and enter into India.

Several are also illegally trafficked into the country. Some of them, like the 24 who were deported, are well versed with Hindi, which makes it difficult to identify them.”

The 24 were arrested a few months ago for staying illegally in the country. They were produced in court, which awarded them four months in jail and a fine of Rs1,000 each. PANDURANG GHADGE, police sub-inspector