New Delhi: Bhopal Police have arrested a Bangladeshi national, Abdul Kalam, who had been living in India for 28 years under the false identity of a transgender woman named "Neha Kinnar." He was taken into detention during an intelligence-led operation in the intervening night between Monday and Tuesday.
Abdul, who entered India illegally at the age of 10, spent nearly two decades in Mumbai before relocating to Bhopal. He, there, assumed the identity of Neha for at least eight years. Residents of Bhopal's Budhwara area, where he lived, knew him solely by this name and identity.
Frequently travelled to Bangladesh using forged passport
According to reports, Abdul had managed to forge multiple official documents, including an Aadhar card, voter ID, and passport. He lived not only undetected but also frequently travelled between India and Bangladesh using his counterfeit passport. Numerous counterfeit documents have been seized, and authorities are also analysing Abdul's mobile phone for possible links to a larger syndicate. The Intelligence Bureau and Anti-Terrorism Squad are now part of the multi-agency probe.
“We acted on credible intelligence from a confidential informant,” said senior officer Shalini Dixit as quoted by India Today. “Given the security implications, the operation was kept highly confidential.”
Abdul detained, investigations underway to dismantle a broader network
A gender verification test has been ordered to determine if the transgender identity was genuine or a part of long-term deception. Meanwhile, Abdul has been placed under 30-day detention as the deportation proceedings begin.
Abdul remains in high-security custody at Talaiya Police Station. His interrogation is currently underway.
