Bangladeshi woman nabbed in Haridwar with fake identity trail, Indian man arrested

Police in Uttarakhand’s Haridwar have arrested a 41-year-old Bangladeshi woman for allegedly residing in India using a web of forged identity documents, while also detaining an Indian man accused of helping her secure the papers and providing shelter.

According to Haridwar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Navneet Singh , the woman was apprehended from the Jwalapur area during a verification drive under ‘Operation Prahar’ , an ongoing campaign aimed at identifying suspicious individuals and illegal residents.

Initially identifying herself as Sweety , the woman reportedly changed her statement during sustained questioning, revealing her true identity as Sahela Begum , a resident of Comilla in Bangladesh. Police said Begum had separated from her husband in 2023 and later entered India after forming a connection on social media with Shyamdas (45) , a resident of Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh.

Investigations revealed that with Shyamdas’ assistance, Begum managed to procure an extensive set of forged Indian documents , including an Aadhaar card, PAN card, driving licence, passport, and even a marriage certificate raising concerns over how such multiple layers of identity verification were bypassed.

Despite the sophistication of the forged identity trail, officials said the breakthrough came through routine ground-level verification rather than a specific tip-off. During door-to-door checks, inconsistencies in the woman’s responses and documents reportedly alerted authorities, prompting deeper interrogation and eventual disclosure.

Police recovered all fake documents along with her Bangladesh passport and citizenship identity card , confirming her foreign origin. Shyamdas has been arrested on charges of harbouring an illegal immigrant and facilitating document forgery .

Officials said the case highlights both the growing misuse of digital connections for cross-border movement and the critical role of l ocal intelligence and verification drives in detecting such networks.