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Police shocked as 'Neha' of Bhopal turns out to be Abdul from Bangladesh: Report
Bhopal Police have uncovered a potential illegal immigration and identity fraud scheme after detaining Abdul Kalam, a Bangladeshi national who lived in the city for eight years under the false identity of Neha, a transgender woman.
Kalam entered India at age 10 and spent two decades in Mumbai before moving to Bhopal's Budhwara area.
He then allegedly faked his identity as a transgender person and integrated into the local hijra community, according to a NDTV report.
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Using forged documents obtained through local agents, he secured an Aadhaar card, ration card, and even an Indian passport.
Police say Kalam, known locally as 'Neha,' frequently changed residences within Budhwara and used his fake identity to travel abroad on the forged passport.
Authorities verifying gender
Authorities are now medically verifying his gender to determine if he is biologically transgender or used the identity to avoid detection.
Investigations suggest Kalam was involved in transgender community activities in Maharashtra, raising suspicions of a broader network. Police are questioning whether other community members knowingly or unknowingly supported the deception.
Two local youths accused of helping Kalam obtain fake documents are under interrogation, and authorities suspect this case may reveal a larger racket involving illegal immigration and document forgery.
Call records and chats from Kalam's phone are being examined for further clues.
Deportation proceedings begin
Kalam has been detained for 30 days under the Foreigners Act. Additional DCP Shalini Dixit told reporters, 'He has been living in Bhopal for the last 8-10 years. Before that, he was in Maharashtra. We received a tip-off through an informer and initiated the identification process. He has also travelled to Bangladesh in the meantime, and we are awaiting reports from concerned departments.'
Deportation proceedings have begun, but not before a thorough probe into Kalam's activities, movements, and connections in India and abroad.
The case has alarmed law enforcement, raising serious questions about national security and how a foreign national could live undetected in a major Indian city for years using fraudulent documents.
Bhopal Police, alongside central agencies, are working urgently to determine the full scope of the fraud and whether this is an isolated case or part of a larger, more concerning network.
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