NIA nabs key accused in trafficking ring of Bangladeshis, Rohingyas

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday arrested a key conspirator in connection with trafficking of Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas through the north-eastern borders of the country. According to the NIA, Jalil Miah, who is a resident of Tripura,  has been arrested. Thirty-three persons were arrested earlier in the case, which NIA had taken over from Assam Special Task Force (STF). Investigations have revealed that Jalil was one of the main conspirators in the human trafficking racket and a close associate of accused Jiban Rudra Pal. Pan India searches conducted by NIA in November last year, had led to the seizure of several incriminating data, including digital devices, along with foreign currency. As per NIA investigations, a large number of Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas are being trafficked to India every month through the porous stretches of the Indo-Bangladesh border. 
Miah, who had been absconding since November 2023, was among the ten individuals for whom the NIA had announced a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh for information leading to their capture in February this year. His arrest comes after the agency had previously apprehended 33 individuals in connection with the case (RC-01/2023/NIA-GUW), which was initially registered by the Assam Special Task Force (STF) in March 2023 under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Passport Act 1967.Investigations have revealed that Miah was a central figure in the trafficking racket, closely associated with chargesheeted accused Jiban Rudra Pal alias Jibon alias Suman and two other absconders, Juj Miah and Shanto, all from Tripura.
The NIA's crackdown has exposed a vast network of human traffickers facilitating the illegal entry of a substantial number of Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas into India every month. These individuals are subsequently transported to various parts of the country and provided with forged documents, often subjected to forced labour.The agency's investigations have uncovered a trail of digital evidence, including foreign currency, Aadhaar cards, and PAN cards, highlighting the intricate web of the trafficking syndicate.