Kolkata Police Intensifies Crackdown On Fake Passport Rackets
The Kolkata Police have launched a significant crackdown on illegal passport operations, following the alarming discovery of passports issued to Bangladeshi citizens based on fraudulent documents. This initiative has brought to light numerous systemic flaws within the passport verification process, raising concerns about potential complicity among police personnel.
The investigation began to draw attention after authorities identified 73 Indian passports allegedly issued to Bangladeshi nationals using fake documents. Such revelations prompted the Kolkata Police to conduct thorough inquiries about the authenticity of addresses provided by applicants. To this end, they sought information from various municipalities and panchayats, including Barasat Municipality and Bangaon Municipality, which all reported no records of issuing the necessary documents.
According to Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma, six individuals have already been arrested for their involvement in the passport scam. Among those detained was Moktar Alam, who was apprehended at his home in Duttapukur, North 24 Parganas. Alam was noted for participating in similar activities even back in 2021. Following these arrests, the police uncovered evidence indicating the use of counterfeit West Bengal board mark sheets, PAN cards, Aadhaar cards, and voter cards to secure the passports.
On December 27, another significant arrest was made when Abiyur Rahaman, a Bangladeshi national, was apprehended at a hotel on Marquis Street. He was found posing as an Indian citizen using fake identity documents, having crossed the border illegally and acquired false identification through local networks. It appears Rahaman intended to obtain fake Indian passports by first securing local identity documents.
These cases led the Kolkata Police to closely monitor the operations of such rackets, which typically begin by providing safe houses for illegal immigrants along the porous India-Bangladesh border. Investigators revealed a pattern where infiltrators, upon entering Indian territory, reach out to agents who supply them with forged documents, starting with ration cards and eventually leading to passports.
The issue of verification failures within the police ranks has also become increasingly pronounced. Recent investigations revealed potential lapses on the part of police officers responsible for conducting routine checks, which are mandatory before passport issuance. Notably, it has been reported frequently how officers violated protocols by summoning applicants to police stations for verification rather than visiting their homes, contravening established guidelines.
A recent court directive emphasized the necessity of accountability among police personnel responsible for the verification process, triggering scrutiny over whether procedural violations contributed to the issuance of fraudulent passports. The Kolkata Police have reflected on these lapses, with Commissioner Verma confirming they are currently reviewing procedures and discussing remedial measures with passport officials.
Moving forward, the Kolkata Police are bolstering security measures as the New Year's celebrations approach, with 4,500 personnel set to be deployed across the city, especially monitoring hotels and lodging facilities where foreign nationals are known to stay. Commissioner Verma assured citizens of proactive measures against any potential threats, reinforcing the commitment to maintaining public safety.
The extent of the illegal passport racket and the police's alleged complicity raise serious concerns about immigration security and law enforcement integrity within the region. Authorities continue to unravel the connections behind these operations, with the threat of foreign infiltration posing challenges not just to state law enforcement but also to national security.
