January 31, 2025: In a significant crackdown on illegal immigration, Kerala Police arrested 27 Bangladeshi nationals on Friday for illegally staying and working in the state, bringing the total number of arrests in January to 34. This marks the first time that such a large group of Bangladeshi nationals has been detained in Kerala for violating immigration laws.

The operation, a coordinated effort by the Ernakulam Rural Police and the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), targeted individuals residing in the North Paravur area of Ernakulam district, part of Kochi city. The arrested individuals, who were posing as migrant workers from West Bengal, were found to be in possession of fake Aadhaar cards.

The latest arrests followed the January 30 detention of two Bangladeshi women, 20-year-old Rubina and 23-year-old Kulsum Akhtar, who had crossed the border into West Bengal and obtained fake Aadhaar cards through an agent. The women had been living in Kerala since February 2024. Authorities suspect that their illegal stay was facilitated by a network of agents operating in West Bengal, prompting further investigations.

The first arrest in this ongoing operation took place two weeks ago when Taslima Begum was apprehended in Perumbavoor. Subsequently, four other Bangladeshi nationals—Hossain Belor, Mohammed Liton, Mohammed Bappi Sho, and Mohammed Amin Uddin—were arrested from various locations in Kochi.

Authorities have launched an investigation to identify and apprehend those responsible for helping these individuals enter Kerala, as well as those who provided them with fraudulent documentation. The arrests highlight a growing concern over the illegal influx of foreign nationals into the state, with the authorities vowing to take further action against such activities.