'My son is Indian, not Bangladeshi'

Mother runs from pillar to post with documents to prove that her son, who has been behind bars for the last six months on charges of being an illegal Bangladeshi immigrant, is Indianu00a0u00a0

The Thane police arrested Mahadev Raha (28) on August 16, last year, and charged him with illegally entering India from Bangladesh.



He was booked under sections 3 (1), 3 (2), 3 (3) and 14 of the Foreigners Act, 1946 read with section 12 (1) of the Indian Passport Act, 1967 read with section 212 of IPC.

Raha's mother Jamuna, his two elder brothers and their families, who reside in Sector V Ulhasnagar, say she is Indian and has been living in Ulhasnagar for three decades now. "None of us has ever visited Bangladesh," Jamuna says. Anil Dhere, commissioner of police, Thane, said he would look into the matter. "I won't be able to comment on the issue," he said.

SD Yenpure, DCP Zone IV, Ulhasnagar, said that migrants often create fake documents. "However, in this case, it might not be so. I will certainly look into the matter and take action against those found guilty," Yenpure said.

A local NCP leader, Shailesh Tiwari, is now helping the Rahas file a PIL in the Bombay HC.
Jamuna showed MiD DAY Raha's birth certificate and her husband's death certificate issued by the Ulhasnagar Municipal Council.

"My son was picked up along with some Bangladeshis. I rushed to the cops to show them these documents. The police still jailed him. For the last seven months, I have been visiting the Aadharwadi Jail in Kalyan to meet my son," said Jamuma.

Police Sub Inspector Yuvraj Birari from Vitthalwadi Police station who arrested Raha told MiD Dayu00a0 that Raha had confessed that he as well as his wife are Bangladeshis. "Neither has he produced any proof that he is Indian, nor has anyone come to meet me in this regard," said Birari.'

However, Jamuna says she has met Birari and also produced papers that prove beyond doubt that her son is an Indian national.

"My son is not married. I tried reasoning with Birari but he did not heed my requests," Jamuna said.u00a0

Documents that say Raha is Indianu00a0u00a0
>> Mahadev Raha's birth certificate issued by the Ulhasnagar Municipal Council
>>u00a0Raha's learner's driving licence
>>u00a0His Class III mark sheet from the New English School, Ulhasnagar
>>u00a0Family ration card, which has Mahadev Raha's name
>>u00a0Property tax receipt on Jamuna's name
>>u00a0Death certificate of his father Sambhunath issued by the Ulhasnagar Municipal Council
Copies of the documents have been given to MiD DAY by Raha's mother Jamuna