Agent-contractor nexus aids immigration: cops

The presence of a widespread racket in which illegal immigrants from Bangladesh are brought to the city for cheap labour was revealed during investigations conducted by the special branch (SB) of the Mumbai police.

The presence of a widespread racket in which illegal immigrants from Bangladesh are brought to the city for cheap labour was revealed during investigations conducted by the special branch (SB) of the Mumbai police.

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According to the police, the nexus between agents at the West Bengal (WB)— Bangladesh border and labour contractors in various cities of the country is proving to be a huge menace.

“We have arrested 29 labour contractors this year for supplying illegal immigrants as labourers at construction sites,” said Sanjay Shintre, deputy commissioner of police, SB. He added, “The agents are hand-in-glove with these labour contractors. A Bangladeshi labourer is paid Rs150 for a day as against Rs450 paid to an Indian labourer.”

Immigrants are lured by agents to work in India for a better remuneration as compared to Bangladesh. The agents in turn make money by supplying labourers to contractors. “They are helped by agents to cross the border at night and are then assigned to contractors,” said Shintre.

The Mumbai police have also warned labour contractors in the city against hiring Bangladeshi immigrants at construction sites. Apart from cheap labour, the illegal immigration of Bangladeshis is a major menace as some of them have been found to be involved in fake currency rackets and flesh trade.

Officials also blame the lack of measures taken by the police at bordering areas to avoid the ingress of illegal Bangladeshi nationals.

Interestingly, out of 1,448 illegal migrants arrested in the city this year, around 300 were women.