Kolkata, 4 August (H.S.) – In a joint operation, the West Bengal Special Task Force (STF) and local police have apprehended a Bangladeshi national, wanted in multiple criminal cases in his home country, who had been living in disguise as a monk in Nadia district.

The arrest took place on Saturday night in the Tehatta area, following a tip-off received by the STF. The accused, identified as 60-year-old Mohammed Hashem Mallik—also known as Hashem Ali Mallik—had allegedly crossed into India illegally and had been hiding under a false Indian identity in the village of Baliura Purba Para.

“Acting on credible intelligence, our team in coordination with Tehatta police raided the area and detained the suspect,” said an STF official. “Hashem was wanted in connection with serious criminal offences in Bangladesh and had been evading law enforcement there for some time.”

Police officials confirmed that the accused failed to produce valid documentation to support his claim of Indian citizenship. During initial interrogation, he reportedly confessed to illegally entering India and forging identity papers to assume a new life as a sadhu.

The case came to light following a complaint filed by Sub-Inspector Mohammed Abdun Noor Chowdhury of the West Bengal STF, after which formal investigation procedures were initiated.

Authorities are now verifying the extent of Hashem’s criminal record in Bangladesh, and coordination with law enforcement agencies across the border is expected in the coming days.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh