Two Bangladeshi couples get 2-yr jail for illegal stay in India

Thane, June 20

A Thane court has sentenced two Bangladeshi couples to two years’ imprisonment for staying illegally in India.

Assistant sessions judge SA Sinha convicted the four Bangladeshi nationals last week on charges under the Foreigners Act and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 each on them.

According to the prosecution, the police raided a hutment colony in the Mira Road area of Thane district on December 28 last year after getting a tip-off.

The police arrested Uttam Golap Sikandar, 27, Mau Uttam Sikandar, 24, Allauddin Gani Malik, 40, and Muslima Allauddin Malik, 38--from there.

The prosecution further said the accused admitted that they were Bangladeshi nationals but failed to produce a valid proof of their identification and residence.

The accused told the police that they did petty works to earn their livelihood.

After hearing both the sides, the judge said it appeared from the record that all the accused are poor people and they entered the country because of their bad financial condition and unemployment.

They did daily-wage jobs in India, she noted.

Hence, while imposing the punishment on them, it is necessary to show leniency, the judge observed.

Therefore, considering the situation, the judge sentenced them to two years’ imprisonment each, and said it is required to give a message to society and prospective criminals that crime never went unpunished.

The court also directed the authorities concerned to take necessary steps to deport the accused to their country on the completion of their sentence. PTI