The arrest of a Bangladeshi national in connection with murder of another Bangladeshi in Panvel, has once again raised questions on measures taken by police against foreign nationals working illegally in the city.

The main culprit fled to Bangladesh after committing the crime, stayed there for two months and came back to work in Mumbai.

If sources are to be believed, a huge number of Bangladeshis are illegally working at Kharghar, Kamothe, Kalamboli, Khandeshwar, Turbhe, Rabale, Taloja and interior areas of Panvel. Some private companies prefer Bangladeshi nationals as they are ready to work for wages lower than that demanded by Indian labourers. While men work in private companies and at construction sites as labourer, women usually work as domestic helps.

Examples of crimes committed by Bangladeshi nationals are also not rare in the city. A team of seven officials including two female constables of CID I-Branch who came to Kharghar were attacked by suspected Bangladeshi immigrants in the last week of February. Two officers were severely injured in the attack.

What is more worrying is that a section of these foreign nationals are now trying to get documents to prove their Indian citizenship. “We have heard that certain agents of the city provide documents like Aadhaar card and PAN Card to Bangladeshi nationals in return of huge amount of money. We are on the look out for such agents, but have not found evidence against anyone so far,” said a crime branch official.

Police detained and deported a total of 202 Bangladeshi nationals from the city in 2012. Approximately 180 Bangladeshis have been detained since January.

Sanjay Yenpure, deputy commissioner of police (special branch), said, “There are around 50 Africans in Navi Mumbai who are registered with us. However, not a single Bangladeshi residing in the city is registered with us. All of them illegally enter the country through the porous border to work in bigger cities like Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. We have directed all senior police inspectors to keep a vigil on the construction sites in their respective areas. The security agencies of the city are also being instructed not to give placement to any person without taking their proper identity proof.”

“We have requested other agencies like City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) and tehshildar offices to check slums in their respective areas, and sought the cooperation of inhabitants in this drive. We will take legal action against builders, contractors or construction companies if they hire such foreign nationals for their projects,” he said.