2 Rohingya women among 3 held; fake passports found

Kolkata: Three persons, including two Rohingya women, who sneaked into India from Bangladesh and fraudulently got Indian passports in their names as the residents of West Bengal, were arrested by the police for allegedly trying to fly to Malaysia from the city.

The accused Rafika Khatoon (22), Noor Kaida Khatoon (20) and Kallol Mitra (49) were detained by the Bureau of Immigration (BOI) officials at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport on March 16 night after their passports were found fake. They were about to catch a Kualalumpur-bound flight (No AK 62) at around 11.30 pm.

Rafika is the wife of Abul Sufian of Sildi Farengo Dummabara village at Bhusidong in Mondu district of Myanmar. In her passport she however claimed herself as the daughter of Muhammad Selim and Jobeda Begam of Sanctora No 07 at Dishergarh in Kulti of Burdwan West.

Similarly Noor, who is the wife of Noor Hasan of Junggara village at Merula in Mondu of Myanmar, claimed herself as the daughter of Mohammad Kasim and Hamida Begam of Sanctora No 05 at Dishergarh in Kulti. Kallol, who helped Rafika and Noor, hails from Kananpally village at Hatzan Bazar in Suri of Birbhum.

Three Indian passports and boarding passes were seized from him. At around 6.15 pm on Sunday, N Alrin Dalzakhual, a BOI official posted at the NSCBI Airport, lodged a complaint with the NSCBI police station against the trio.

Deputy commissioner of police (Headquarters) Amit Javalgi said, “During interrogation, Rafika claimed herself to   be from the Rohinga Community of Mayanmar. She stated that she lived in Tangail Rohingya Refugee Camp in Bangladesh. She entered India illegally six months ago and managed to obtain an Indian passport fraudulently.”

He added, “Noor stated that she born in PSP Arakan State in Mayanmar and entered India illegally.”

The court remanded Kallol in four days’ police custody while sending Rafika and Noor in judicial custody.