Police in West Bengal have apprehended a Bangladeshi national, Shahidul Gazi, who was residing unlawfully at the home of a Trinamool Congress leader in Hingalganj, North 24 Parganas district. Local residents captured Gazi and handed him over to the authorities after discovering his presence in the area.
Shahidul Gazi reportedly crossed the India-Bangladesh border illicitly in 2007 and sought refuge at the residence of Trinamool panchayat member Joynal Abedin. Gazi confessed to the media that Abedin facilitated his stay, arranged his voter identity card, and helped his father obtain a voter card through an acquaintance.
Following the incident, Joynal Abedin and his family members have purportedly vacated the locality, prompting a search operation by the police to locate him. Basirhat Police District Superintendent Alaknanda Bhawal confirmed the arrest of Gazi and stated that legal proceedings have commenced.
Shahidul Gazi disclosed that he initially worked at Abedin’s fish market in Hingalganj and later relocated within the same area. He asserted his intention to return to Bangladesh with his family once border restrictions ease, expressing no desire to revisit India. Local residents had previously alerted the police about the alleged infiltration, leading to Gazi’s detention and subsequent handover to the authorities.
Ananda Sarkar, the defeated Trinamool candidate from Hingalganj, emphasized the need for an inquiry into the matter before making any conclusive statements. Meanwhile, local BJP leader Palash Sarkar warned of repercussions for individuals harboring illegal infiltrators under the new administration.
