BHOPAL: Eight suspected Bangladeshi nationals living illegally in Gwalior for over 12 years have been arrested from the Maharajpura area of Madhya Pradesh following a tip-off from Haryana Police. The operation was conducted jointly by teams from Haryana and Gwalior after the accused’s relatives were detained in Panipat last week. Police said the group had been residing near the Indian Air Force’s Maharajpura Airbase, a high-security zone, prompting intelligence agencies to step in. Officials are now examining their mobile records and possible links. Those arrested have been identified as Mohammad Sharif (40), his wife Silima (25), son Rafiq (14), daughters Adori (8) and Uja (2), nephew Aashiq (15), relative Chumki, and Ratul Sheikh (23) — all residents of Jessore, Bangladesh. Sharif’s father, Noor, was the first to enter India illegally about 15 years ago and died after falling into a well in Gwalior. The family later settled permanently in the city.

During interrogation, Sharif admitted to crossing into India via Kolkata by paying Rs 4,000 to border agents and later began working as a labourer. The family reportedly worked as garbage collection contractors for a local resident, Devendra Kansana, earning about Rs 15,000 per month. Police said the group lived in a rented house in Maharajpura and had no valid documents. Their presence near an Air Force base has raised serious security concerns. Further verification is underway, a senior officer said. All eight are in police custody, and further arrests may follow.