The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has initiated a nationwide manhunt for illegal immigrants who acquired national identities such as Aadhaar and PAN cards through fraudulent means. Special teams are actively searching for agents involved in facilitating the procurement of fake documents for immigrants, often charging hefty fees for their services.
In a crackdown launched in November, the NIA arrested 44 suspects, including three in Tamil Nadu, as part of an investigation into human trafficking networks responsible for the infiltration of illegal migrants, including those of Rohingya origin, across the Indo-Bangladesh border. The searches, conducted in various states, resulted in the seizure of significant amounts of Indian and foreign currency, along with numerous Aadhaar and PAN cards.
NIA officials highlight the existence of a well-established network of agents operating in different states, enabling illegal immigrants to obtain authentic proof of address or identity using forged documents. These immigrants, often from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, assume new identities and addresses as printed on the fraudulently obtained identity cards, posing a challenge for authorities.
The Union government has issued alerts to state governments about agents working along the international border in West Bengal, providing fraudulently obtained Indian identity documents to Bangladeshi nationals who illegally cross into India. Efforts are underway to apprehend suspected Bangladeshi nationals employed in various sectors based on information obtained from arrested agents and local intelligence.