A Bangladeshi national was arrested here for being in the country illegally, police said on Sunday.
The accused, identified as Parimal Das (21), entered India illegally through West Bengal.
During interrogation, it was revealed that the arrested had obtained a fake Aadhaar card with the help of local agents using a fake address.
The agent who helped him get the fake Aadhaar card has also been named as an accused in the case, they said.
Proceedings were registered against Das under relevant sections of the Aliens Act and for forgery.
The accused, currently in remand custody, will be taken into police custody for further questioning to gather more information related to illegal immigrants here, Kollam ACP S. Shareef said.
A detailed investigation is underway in the case.
Das was apprehended during the ‘Surakshitha Theeram’ inspection drive conducted by the Kollam City Police.
Collection of detailed information on migrant workers involved in fishing and related activities along the coastal areas of the southern district has been initiated, they said.
So far, the documents of nearly 1,300 migrant workers have been verified under this initiative, an official statement said here.
The aim of ‘Surakshitha Theeram’ is to create a comprehensive database of migrant workers by collecting details such as their residential address, place of employment and employer information to be stored in a centralized system.
Aadhaar authentication and biometric machines are used for authentication purposes. The project also helps in monitoring interstate workers employed on fishing boats, strengthening coastal security and identifying individuals with criminal history, he said.
Following the arrest of the Bangladeshi national, the police have decided to intensify checks in the coming days to detect more such illegal immigrants along the Kollam coast, the statement added.
Published – 19 October 2025 19:59 IST
