Six Bangladeshi nationals held in Kochi for illegal stay

Kochi: Kerala Police arrested six Bangladeshi nationals allegedly staying illegally at a scrap shop in Eroor after a tip-off from intelligence agencies, officials said on Friday.

Officers raided the Kuttipadam Road premises on Thursday and found identity cards and other documents carried by the employees to be fake. The six were identified as Rakiv Shaba, Muhammad Sohal Faraz, Tarek, Sogir, Maidhi Hazida and Muhammad Agin. During questioning they reportedly admitted to being Bangladeshi nationals who had been working in Kochi for several months.

The suspects were taken to Hill Palace police station for further interrogation by intelligence teams. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Immigration and Foreigners Act. Police said they are probing how the group entered Kerala and who arranged their travel. The accused will be produced in court as part of remand proceedings.