21 Bangladesh nationals detained in J&K’s Ramban

JAMMU: At least 21 Bangladesh nationals, including four women and seven minors, were detained in J&K’s Ramban district last week. Officials were questioning them to learn who facilitated their movement to the Union Territory, official sources said Monday.The group was caught moving in two vehicles during a checking drive in Banihal on Aug 1, as no vehicle apart from those in Amarnath convoys is currently being allowed to move towards Kashmir in view of rain-triggered landslides and mudslides.Those detained are aged between two years and 38 years. “Upon verification, none of them could produce any valid identity or travel document establishing their lawful entry into or presence within Indian territory,” said an official source.“During preliminary questioning, the detained individuals disclosed that they had crossed the international border and entered India through Assam, from where they travelled to Jammu via train. They were moving towards Kashmir in search of employment,” the source added.Investigators were probing whether any local or interstate network was involved in assisting the movement of these illegal immigrants.