'Key conspirator' among Rohingya, Bangladeshi trafficking case arrested in Tripura: NIA

Guwahati: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday arrested a person in Tripura in connection with a case related to smuggling of Rohingya and Bangaldesh nationals through porous stretches of the Indo-Bangladesh borders in the northeast.

The accused, identified as Jalil Miah, according to the NIA, is one of the key conspirators in the trafficking network.

The NIA had in February announced a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh for anyone providing information leading to Miah's arrest.

The agency had earlier arrested 33 accused during searches conducted at several locations in different states. But Miah, along with nine others wanted in connection with the case, remain at large, the NIA said.

“Investigations revealed that Jalil was one of the main conspirators in human trafficking and a close associate of accused Jiban Rudra Pal alias Jibon alias Suman. He was also closely associated with two other fugitives, Juj Miah and Shanto, all from Tripura Although Jalil managed to escape during the initial operation on November 8, 2023, in which 29 accused were arrested, the electronic devices and other incriminating documents seized from his house exposed. evidence of his complicity,” said a statement issued by the NIA. Tuesday evening.

According to NIA investigations, a large number of Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas are trafficked to India every month through the porous areas of the India-Bangladesh border. They are then transported to different regions of the country, provided with false documents and forced to work.

The pan-India searches conducted by the NIA in November 2023 led to the seizure of a lot of incriminating data, including digital devices, as well as foreign currencies (Bangladeshi taka and US dollar), Aadhar cards, PAN cards, etc. The events of January 29 last year led to the arrest of four other accused in the case, revealing a vast network of human traffickers, the NIA said.

The manhunt to find the other fugitives continues and investigations are underway to connect the missing links of this complex racket, the press release added.