Rohingya Muslim working in a meat factory arrested in Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh)

• Living illegally in India for 25 years

• Aadhaar card, PAN card and other documents seized

Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh) – The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad has arrested a Rohingya Muslim from Ekta Colony in the Qutub Sher area of the city. The accused has been identified as Shahabuddin. A mobile phone, Aadhaar card, PAN card, bank passbook and property documents were seized from his possession. He had reportedly been residing in the district for several years and was working in a meat factory.

For several days, the Anti-Terrorism Squad had been receiving inputs that some individuals from Myanmar had illegally entered India and were working in meat factories in Saharanpur district.

Acting on specific information, the police arrested Shahabuddin from Ekta Colony. During interrogation, it emerged that he is originally from Myanmar.

From his pocket, the police recovered a mobile phone, a blue slip bearing the name of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, an official Aadhaar card, as well as land-related documents, bank account details and electricity bills.

During questioning, he admitted that he is originally from Myanmar and had illegally entered India around 20–25 years ago. He stated that Indian identity documents were required to work in the meat factory and for other employment purposes; therefore, he obtained an Aadhaar card through a middleman. He claimed that he does not remember the name of the agent.

Editorial Perspectives

• It is a grave failure of the intelligence agencies that an infiltrator could live in the country for 25 years and even obtain Indian identity documents without detection.

• According to one official estimate, more than 5 crore infiltrators are residing in India. This situation is a matter of shame for all-party governments since Independence, as well as for the police machinery and administration. The world has seen how nations like the United States and Canada act firmly against infiltrators. Therefore, it must be realised that without expelling infiltrators, India’s dream of becoming a developed nation will remain nearly impossible to achieve.