Bangladeshi Man Caught At Lucknow Airport With Fake Indian Passport While Heading To Thailand

A Bangladeshi national was apprehended at Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport in Lucknow on Saturday for attempting to travel to Thailand using fraudulent Indian documents.

The man, who had assumed the identity of Ashish Rai, was found to be Shimul Barua from Shilghata, Chopachhari, Satkania, Chattogram, Bangladesh.

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Bangladeshi Man Caught At Lucknow Airport - Incident Details

On Friday, passengers were being processed at Terminal 3 for flight FD-147 to Bangkok when immigration officers became suspicious of Barua's documents, as reported by Hindustan Times. His Aadhaar card and passport listed an address in Rathtala, under the Singur police station in Hooghly district, West Bengal. However, discrepancies in the documents prompted further investigation.

During questioning, Barua admitted to the authorities that he had falsified his identity. He had acquired a fake Aadhaar card and passport, which he used to pose as an Indian citizen. A genuine Bangladeshi passport was also discovered in his belongings.

Barua was booked at Sarojini Nagar police station and taken into custody for further interrogation. Station in-charge Shailendra Giri confirmed the arrest and noted that Barua's case is being investigated further.

Context and Similar Incidents

This incident is part of a broader pattern of illegal activities involving forged documents. In June 2024, three Bangladeshi nationals were similarly caught at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, attempting to board a flight to Bangkok with fake Indian documents. They aimed to secure jobs in Thailand due to insufficient income from labour in Bangladesh.

Additionally, throughout 2024, multiple operations led by Pimpri Chinchwad police in Pune uncovered extensive forgery networks assisting Bangladeshis in illegally staying in India, as reported by PTI. These operations highlight the persistent issue of document fraud and the ongoing efforts to combat such activities.

Official Reactions

The recent arrest underscores the vigilance of Indian immigration authorities in detecting and preventing the misuse of forged documents. The case serves as a reminder of the challenges faced in controlling illegal immigration and the importance of rigorous document verification processes at international airports, as per media reports.

The authorities continue to strengthen their measures to thwart such fraudulent activities and ensure that immigration regulations are upheld.