Bangladeshi immigrant arrested for second time
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 20 2022:
A team of Lilong police station arrested one suspected illegal Bangladeshi immigrant during an ILP verification drive on Wednesday.
The arrested Bangladeshi national has been identified as Mohammad Ramjan Ali (35) s/o Md Jalaluddin of Piyali Mari, PO-Monakasha, PS Shibganj, Chapainawabganj District, Bangladesh.
Briefing the media at Lilong PS on Thursday, State ILP Monitoring Cell in-charge and DIG Range-II Worngam Ningshen said that the illegal immigrant was earlier booked for possessing an invalid Passport under Foreigner Act on April 19 and sent to judicial custody on April 26 the same year.
The charge sheet was submitted by IO of the case on November 7 but the accused was released on bail by the Court of JMFC/Thoubal on February 2 this year and was working as a scrap dealer in Lilong, prior to Wednesday's arrest.
Further investigation shows the number of times he entered or exited Manipur.
On Thursday, Md Ramjan Ali was arrested and is being kept at the Foreigner Transit Centre (Detention Centre) in NCO Barrack, 3 IRB Complex, Thoubal District, Manipur, which has been declared as a detention centre for illegal immigrants as per orders issued by the government of Manipur.
After conviction, Ramjan would be deported to his home country.
DIG Worngam Ningshen then appealed to the people and CSOs concerned to contact the nearest SP or OC if they come across any illegal immigrant or those who are extending their stay without a valid ILP passport, adding that appropriate legal action would be taken in the matter.
The press briefing was also attended by Thoubal SP Jogeshchandra Haobijam, Lilong Police Station OC Thingbaijam Phullachand and other personnel.
On the other hand, Manipur Muslim Welfare Organisation (MMWO), in a press release, informed that it detained an illegal Bangaldeshi immigrant during a verification drive conducted in Lilong Uku area at around 6pm on Wednesday and handed him over to Lilong PS.
As per the release issued by MMWO president Kshetrimayum Boby, the Bangladeshi immigrant identified as one Md Ramjan Ali was found working at the scrap godown operated by a Bengali in Lilong Uku area.
He was then handed over to Lilong PS for further legal action.
On questioning, Ramjan revealed that he was previously arrested by Lilong PS on April 19, 2021 under the Foreigner Act and released on bail some time after.
It is unfortunate that someone arrested under the Foreigner Act was released on bail so easily.
Questioning whether the government had taken up any action against those who had trafficked and sheltered the foreigners, the organisation said that the person who provided surety for the bail plea of an illegal foreigner is selfish and an enemy of the society.
As such, MMWO urged members of the Meitei Pangal community not to rent out their rooms without proper investigation.
It also appealed to the government not to let off those who are trafficking and sheltering such foreigners lightly.