Published Sep 18, 2026 | 1:24 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 18, 2026 | 1:24 PM
Kerala police. (Supplied)
Synopsis: Meanwhile, a complaint seeking special inspections across Keralam to identify foreign nationals residing and working in the state without valid passports or visas has been submitted to the Chief Minister’s Office, which has now been forwarded to the State Police Chief.
The arrest of five women allegedly from Bangladesh in Kannur within two days has prompted the police to widen their inquiry into the presence of foreign nationals staying and working in the district without valid travel documents.
The investigation is also looking into how some of the women allegedly obtained Indian identity documents and whether others were involved in facilitating their stay.
Meanwhile, a complaint seeking special inspections across Keralam to identify foreign nationals residing and working in the state without valid passports or visas has been submitted to the Chief Minister’s Office, which has now been forwarded to the State Police Chief.
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Four women — Nazma Akter, 40, Taslima Khatun, 25, Moyna Khatun, 29, and Nasrin, 30 — were arrested on 15 September after police found them allegedly working at a spa in Kannur and staying in a rented apartment.
They were unable to produce valid passports or visas permitting their stay in India, police said.
The arrests came a day after Kannur Town Police took Selina Akter, 29, another alleged Bangladeshi national, into custody from a spa near Kannur railway station. Her arrest followed information received from a Central agency.
Police said an examination of the mobile phones of the four women arrested on 15 September allegedly revealed photographs of Bangladeshi national identity cards and other documents.
Investigators are now examining how the women obtained Aadhaar cards and other Indian documents and whether anyone assisted them in procuring the documents.
The women have been booked under Sections 3(1) and 21 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.
According to the preliminary investigation, the women had reportedly entered India through West Bengal last year and subsequently stayed in Assam and Bengaluru before reaching Kannur.
Police are verifying these details and tracing their movements as part of the expanded investigation.
Meanwhile, High Court lawyer and activist Kulathoor Jaising submitted the complaint for wider probe to the Chief Minister, whose office subsequently forwarded it to the State Police Chief for necessary action.
The complaint seeks district-wise checks to identify and take action against foreign nationals, particularly Bangladeshis, who may be living and working in Keralam without valid documentation.
It refers to the recent arrests in Kannur and similar incidents reported from other parts of the state.
Jaising has also sought steps to inform the Ministry of External Affairs about cases involving foreign nationals apprehended for staying in Keralam without valid documents.
The complaint argues that the authorities need to adopt a more systematic approach to identifying undocumented foreign nationals rather than detecting them only after they come to police attention in connection with alleged criminal activities.
The complaint further raises concerns over the possible involvement of undocumented foreign nationals in activities such as drug trafficking and sex rackets and calls for coordinated action by the state police and other agencies, citing national-security considerations.
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Dileep V Kumar)
