*ED Court Orders Custody of Four Accused in Cross-Border Infiltration and Human Trafficking Case*
Ranchi: A Special Court has remanded four individuals to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody, labeling them a significant threat to national security and the economy. The court emphasized their involvement in cross-border and interstate criminal activities with serious implications for India’s sovereignty.
The four arrested individuals—Rony Mondal and Sandip Chowdhury, both Bangladeshi nationals, and Pintu Haldar and Pinki Basu Mukherjee, Indian nationals—were taken into ED custody for five days following their arrest on November 13. The court stated that they are part of a larger syndicate operating across West Bengal and parts of Jharkhand, including Ranchi, and are involved in facilitating the illegal infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals into India.
According to the ED, the group is implicated in multiple illegal activities, including human trafficking and the generation of proceeds from crime. The court cited the seizure of incriminating materials, including mobile phones with evidence of monetary transactions linked to these illegal activities, notably the prostitution of Bangladeshi women brought into India through this network.
The ED’s investigation revealed that the syndicate was facilitating the illegal entry of Bangladeshi nationals into India using forged documents such as fake Aadhar cards and passports. During raids at 17 locations across Jharkhand and West Bengal, law enforcement uncovered a range of incriminating items, including fake identification documents, illegal arms, cash, property papers, jewelry, and materials used for forging official documents.
The case, based on an FIR filed by Jharkhand Police, pertains to a network of private agents who assist Bangladeshi nationals in crossing the India-Bangladesh border illegally, often leading to exploitation and immoral activities. The ED’s findings, which include details of financial transactions related to the prostitution racket, highlight the scale and severity of the syndicate’s operations.
The court noted the gravity of the situation, particularly regarding the involvement of foreign nationals in acquiring Indian citizenship through fraudulent means and the broader impact of these activities on national security. The ED is continuing its investigation, with further legal proceedings likely as more details emerge.