ED arrests 4 Including Bangladeshi Nationals for Illegal Infiltration

Ranchi: Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested four individuals, including two Bangleshi nationals, in connection with a money laundering case involving illegal Bangleshi infiltration into Jharkhand and nearby regions, according to official sources on Wednesday.

Rony Mondal and Sameer Chowdhary are from Bangleshi while Pintu Haldar is an Indian.

On Wednesday, Pinki Basu Mukherjee, an Indian woman, became fourth person to be arrested in case.

first three individuals, believed to be touts, were arrested on Tuesday night in West Bengal for allegedly "facilitating" illegal human trafficking into India, according to sources.

four have been arrested under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), y said.

On Tuesday, federal probe ncy conducted searches at 17 locations in connection with money laundering case in Jharkhand, as well as in West Bengal, both are poll bound states.

federal ncy said in a statement on Tuesday that during raids, "incriminating" items were seized, including fake Ahaar cards, forged passports, illegal arms, property documents, cash, jewelry, printing paper and machines, as well as blank proforma used for forging Ahaar IDs.

Polling is on in 43 Assembly seats of Jharkhand on Wednesday. remaining 38 seats of state will vote on vember 20.

ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) h slammed BJP -led Centre, alleging that central ncy's action was an attempt to "help saffron camp establish its Bangleshi infiltration narrative".

Congress , an ally of JMM, also me a similar allegation, saying raids were t for Bangleshi infiltrators but a last attempt to save BJP's political ground in state.

searches came after ED filed a case under PMLA in September to probe an instance of alleged infiltration and trafficking of some Bangleshi women into Jharkhand leing to generation of alleged slush funds.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and or BJP leers have accused state government of aiding such infiltration, leing to altering of demographic landscape of tribal-dominated areas of Santhal Pargana and Kolhan regions during assembly poll campaign.

dressing an election rally in Deoghar on Wednesday, Modi said infiltration was a major concern in Jharkhand and tribal population in Santhal Pargana h been reduced to half.

JMM-led coalition government in Jharkhand allowed infiltrators to become permanent citizens, Modi alleged.

Uttar Presh Chief Minister Yogi ityanath on Monday accused JMM-led ruling coalition of converting Jharkhand into a 'dharmashala' for Rohingyas and Bangleshi infiltrators.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah anunced in Seraikela on Monday that if BJP is voted to power in Jharkhand, n a committee would be formed to identify and drive out infiltrators from state besides reclaiming land grabbed by m.

ECIR (enforcement case information report) filed by central ncy stems from a Jharkhand Police FIR filed at Bariatu police station in Ranchi in June.

police FIR, filed on complaint of a Bangleshi woman who allegedly infiltrated into country from India- Banglesh border with help of touts to find work, has named around six women as accused who were arrested following a raid at a local resort.

woman who filed complaint escaped from a similar guest house and reached police station. Police also recovered a "fake" Ahaar card from one of se women.

Police pressed multiple Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections like 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery of valuable security), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document) and 34 (common intention) in FIR.

It also invoked Section 12 of Passport Act (kwingly furnishing any false information or suppressing any material information with a view to obtaining a passport or travel document) and Section 14A of Foreigners Act (penalty for entry in restricted area) in complaint.

FIR quoted women complainant saying that y were trafficked into India from Banglesh allegedly for prostitution by luring m in name of getting a job in beauty salons.

(with ncy inputs)