Pune City Police have arrested 66 Bangladeshi nationals for residing illegally in the city in the last five years. However, as per the official data, only eight of them have been deported. The rise in the number of illegal immigrants and their involvement in criminal activities has become a serious threat to security and public safety. Meanwhile, politicians, activists and residents of the city are expressing their concerns and demanding strict action against illegal immigrants.
Speaking to The Free Press Journal, Mukund Kirdat, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) spokesperson, said, “It is not just a matter of Pune city, but these illegal immigrants are expanding their roots across Maharashtra. Despite a triple-engine government, the administration fails to stop them. Recently, in a report, approximately 150-200 cases of illegal stay of Bangladeshis came to light in Mumbai, and similarly, there are cases in Pune as well. The Home Ministry should intervene and implement a specific plan to curb this.”
Senior Congress leader Mohan Joshi added, “It is a total failure of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). For the last ten years, the BJP has been in power. The government should change their policy and accordingly instruct the local police to handle it. Only then will it be possible to stop illegal immigration.”
Swapnil Naik, a member of Patit Pavan Sanghatna, said, “Our organisation consistently keeps an eye on illegal immigration of Bangladeshis in the city. In a recent case, we exposed a Bangladeshi who had been living in the city for the last 20 years. We lodged an FIR against them at the Swargate Police station.”
Ayub Shaikh, a resident of Kondhwa, said, “Kondhwa is the hotspot for illegal immigrants, including Bangladeshis. 66 is a very small number. If police conduct proper tenant verification, the number could easily cross thousands. Areas like Bibwewadi, Kondhwa, Bharati Vidyapeeth and Hadapsar are some major hotspots for them. We have seen their involvement in many cases of illegal narcotics business in the city. Police should start proper tenant verification across the city.”
Commenting on these concerns, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Nikhil Pingle emphasised, “Pune Police is continuously conducting inspections. Eight people have been deported in the last five years. The rest are serving sentences in jails. There are also cases where these illegal immigrants have been deported without registering a case. In such matters, action is being taken as per government policies.”
