Mokhtar Alam, a key suspect involved in a racket providing fake Indian passports for Bangladeshi infiltrators, was arrested by the West Bengal Police from his residence in Duttapukur, North 24 Parganas district, on Wednesday. The arrest follows an ongoing investigation into the illegal activity of helping infiltrators enter India through the state’s porous borders.
During the arrest, police seized several incriminating documents, including fake PAN cards and ATM cards. With Alam’s arrest, the total number of arrests in the fake passport racket has now reached six over the past 10 days. The police have been investigating a network that arranges for fake identity documents for people crossing the border illegally, making it easier for them to integrate into Indian society.
The investigation began with the questioning of five individuals already arrested in connection with the racket. Through interrogation, Alam’s involvement was confirmed. A senior police official said that Alam, with a history of criminal activities, had been involved in several illegal operations before.
The racket’s operation follows a clear pattern: infiltrators, once crossing the border, contact local agents willing to provide fake Indian documents for large sums of money. These agents first arrange for fake ration cards, which serve as the foundation for creating other fake identity documents like EPIC, PAN, and Aadhaar cards. Eventually, fake passports are created based on these fraudulent documents, allowing infiltrators to pass as legitimate Indian citizens.
The police are continuing their investigation and are hopeful that Alam’s interrogation will provide further leads into the broader network behind this illegal passport and identity fraud scheme.