• Interrogation conducted by ATS cell and crime branch; correspondence with central government to repatriate them
Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
A case has emerged involving the trafficking of two 20-year-old girls from Bangladesh to the city via West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh. The crime branch and anti-terrorism squad (ATS) conducted thorough interrogations. However, the reason for bringing them to the city remains unclear, as the case file contains no mention of motive. A case has been registered at MIDC Cidco police station against hotel operator Akash Nana Tribhuvan (29, resident of Ambedkarnagar) for illegally housing them.
Information reached the city police’s anti-terrorism cell that two Bangladeshi girls were staying at White House Lodge on Beed Bypass. Following suggestions from Police Commissioner Pravin Pawar and Deputy Commissioner Ratnakar Navale, cell head Police Inspector Rajesh Mayekar, Assistant Inspector Anil Kankal, and Sub-Inspector Sandip Kale, along with colleagues, raided the hotel at 10 pm on 19 January. Both 20-year-old Bangladeshi girls were found, and female officers took them into custody.
“We came via the river…”
The families of both girls in Bangladesh are reportedly in poor financial condition. According to their statements during interrogation, they crossed the border into India four to five months ago via river, evading army patrols. After staying briefly in West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh, they were brought to a hotel in Waluj two months ago. Five days ago, traffickers moved them to White House Lodging near Gandheli Phata. However, the purpose of bringing them to the country and city, and by whom, could not be determined. Police are examining the documents recovered from them.
City remains a hub for Bangladeshi trafficking
• In May 2025, Bangladeshi girls were trafficked for sex work to the Zalta Phata area; hotel operator Abhijit Balasaheb Jadhav (resident of Ghansawangi) was arrested.
• In January 2024, a 16-year-old Bangladeshi girl was trafficked to the city via Kolkata–Pune route.
• On 19 September 2025, the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly expressed concern over Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar becoming a center for Bangladeshi girl trafficking.
How were ATS and local police unaware?
It is primarily the anti-terrorism squad’s (ATS) responsibility to gather information and act against citizens residing illegally. However, ATS only gathers such information during VIP visits by inspecting hotels and lodgings. Moreover, the two girls had been residing in a Waluj hotel. Despite this, the Waluj and MIDC Waluj police were completely unaware, raising serious questions about police operational efficiency.