VisaViolation – Six Foreign Nationals Arrested in Kolkata Overstay Case
VisaViolation – Kolkata police have taken action in multiple cases involving foreign nationals, including visa violations, an alleged kidnapping, and a public health concern in a residential complex.
Six Arrested for Alleged Visa Overstay
Officers from Park Street police station arrested six Bangladeshi nationals for remaining in India beyond the validity of their visas. The individuals have been identified as Abir Hossain Ragbi, Md Mamur Rashid, Md Alimul Rajib, Azim Mollah, Foizul Amin, and Zahidul Islam.
According to police sources, the six had entered India with valid travel documents. However, they allegedly failed to leave the country before their visas expired. On Monday, the accused were produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court, which remanded them to judicial custody until February 27.
Legal Aid Defense counsel represented the accused during the court proceedings, as none of them had arranged private legal representation. Investigators indicated that the group had initially planned to travel onward to Portugal through India for business-related purposes, but the plan did not materialize. Authorities are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding their stay.
Two Held in Alleged Kidnapping for Ransom
In a separate development, city police arrested two individuals, including a Bangladeshi national identified as Humayn Kabir, on allegations of kidnapping two fellow Bangladeshi citizens. The arrests were made following a police operation based on specific intelligence inputs.
Sources said that the victims, Rajib Laskar and Junaid Miaan, had recently arrived in Kolkata with the intention of traveling to Turkistan through India. They were allegedly promised assistance in obtaining valid passports and visas. Kabir reportedly introduced them to another accused, Achintyakumar.
Investigators claim that the victims were taken to a hideout in the city by Kabir and Achintyakumar under the pretext of arranging travel documents. Once there, the accused allegedly contacted the victims’ families and demanded a ransom of Rs 3 lakh. The families reportedly transferred the amount.
Acting on a tip-off, officers from the Technocity police station conducted a raid at a hotel and rescued the two victims. The accused were taken into custody, and further investigation is underway to determine whether others were involved in the alleged scheme.
Residents Protest After Illness in New Town Complex
Meanwhile, residents of E Block at the Shapoorji Pallonji housing complex in New Town reported a number of gastroenteritis cases over the past few days. Several families complained of symptoms commonly associated with diarrhoea and suspected that contaminated water might be the source of the outbreak.
On Monday, concerned residents gathered in front of the housing administration office, demanding immediate steps to address what they believe is unsafe water supply. They also alleged that water storage reservoirs and tanks within the complex had not been properly maintained.
Officials confirmed that water samples have been collected and sent to the laboratory of the state Public Health Engineering Department for testing. The results are expected to determine whether contamination was present in the supply.
Authorities from the housing management stated that precautionary measures, including cleaning and purification of water tanks, are currently being carried out. They assured residents that steps are being taken to ensure the safety and quality of the water supply.
Police and civic authorities have said that investigations in all three matters are ongoing and that appropriate action will be taken based on findings.