Bangladeshi migrants giving cops the jitters

KOCHI: Kerala police are losing sleep over the influx of illegal migrants from Bangladesh. They arrested 20 illegal Bangladeshis from various labour camps in Thrissur district earlier this week and they suspect that more migrants are on the prowl, acting as agents for counterfeit Indian currency.
Thrissur superintendent of police (SP) Debesh Kumar Behera said they had arrested 20 persons from Bangladesh who did not have valid travel documents."As per the information available with us, 30 persons have managed to flee to Ernakulam district and we have alerted the Aluva rural police," he said.
The officer said that they had interrogated the arrested in detail as these people were said to be carrying large quantity of Indian counterfeit currencies. "This is a serious internal security issue. There is a possibility that terrorists may use these people as their couriers and agents to carry out anti-national activities," the official said.
"Rackets with strong network in West Bengal are helping these people cross the border and reach Kerala. We have started the procedures to deport them back to Bangladesh and have communicated with the central agencies concerned," Behera said.
He added that a detailed probe was on to trace the racket members who had brought these people to Kerala. "These people are employed in small scale industrial units situated in places bordering Ernakulam and Thrissur. We have alerted the owners of these units to be vigilant against illegal migrants from Bangladesh," the officer added.