 "Crossed Meghalaya river, used local’s Aadhaar for SIM: How Saif Ali Khan’s attacker illegally entered India")
The Bangladeshi national, arrested for stabbing Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, had entered India illegally.
Shariful Islam Shehzad Mohammad Rohilla Amin Fakir was taken into custody nearly 70 hours after attacking Khan at his Bandra residence.
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Mumbai Police tracked the suspect down after he made a UPI payment via Google Pay for parathas and a bottle of water in Worli. The transaction provided his mobile number, which eventually led them to Thane, where he was arrested.
Following investigations revealed that after entering India, the accused changed his name to Bijoy Das and began residing in the country.
This presents a question: how did a Bangladeshi national manage to cross into India?
How Saif Ali Khan’s attacker entered India
Shariful Islam told police that he had completed his education up to Class 12 in Bangladesh, has two brothers, and came to India in search of work.
He claimed he entered India illegally via the Dawki River on the India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya, The Indian Express reported, citing sources.
During questioning, Shariful initially claimed to be a resident of Kolkata. However, police found evidence on his phone of calls made to Bangladesh numbers, as well as to his family members using mobile apps, the report said.
Police later made him call his family in Bangladesh, and his brother provided identity documents that confirmed his Bangladeshi nationality.
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An official told PTI that Shariful stayed in West Bengal for a few weeks after crossing the border. He allegedly used an Aadhaar card belonging to a local resident to obtain a SIM card before moving to Mumbai in search of work.
The preliminary investigation revealed that the SIM card was registered under the name Khukumoni Jahangir Sekha from West Bengal.
Although Shariful attempted to obtain an Aadhaar card for himself, he was unsuccessful.
But how did he enter through the river? Where in Bangladesh is he originally from?
According to India Today Fact Check, the Dawki River is regarded as an open border between India and Bangladesh. This river serves as a frequent trade route between the two nations, and border crossings are also common in this area.
The river has been a known vulnerable point for illegal immigration for some time. During the political crisis in Bangladesh in July last year, the Border Security Force (BSF) launched Operation Alert to improve border management.
In August 2024, the BSF declared that the 443-km India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya was fully secure and dismissed reports of illegal entry by Bangladeshis.
Following Shariful Islam’s recent arrest, Bangladeshi media reported that he belongs to the Rajabaria village in the Nalchity Upazila of the Jhalokati district.
His father, Ruhul Amin Fakir, a former jute mill worker, told India Today Fact Check that his son illegally migrated to India in April 2024. Ruhul admitted that Shariful has a troubled past, with several police cases pending against him in Bangladesh.
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What happened after he reached Mumbai?
After spending a few weeks in West Bengal, Shariful moved to Mumbai. There, he sought jobs that did not require documentation. A labour contractor named Amit Pandey helped him in securing housekeeping work at pubs and hotels in Worli and Thane.
According to The Indian Express, before entering Saif Ali Khan’s building, Shariful had attempted to trespass into the bungalow of another Bollywood superstar nearby. However, he fled after the dogs there began barking. This trespassing attempt was captured on CCTV, though the footage was reportedly unclear.
Police stated that no complaint had been filed in this regard.
Shariful was carrying a knife and tools when he entered Khan’s house. After fleeing the building, he slept in a garden near a Bandra college and changed his clothes.
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How was he arrested?
Mumbai Police reviewed multiple CCTV recordings during their investigation. Footage showed Shariful getting off a bike at Bandra railway station on January 9. He was also seen outside Dadar railway station on three occasions and visiting Worli Koliwada.
While examining CCTV footage from Worli, officers noticed him near a stall close to Century Mill. The stall owner, identified as Naveen Ekka, informed police that the suspect had paid for paratha and water using UPI.
This UPI transaction linked to Shariful’s mobile number led police to a labour camp in Kasarvadavali, Thane, and contractor Amit Pandey, who had hired him a few months earlier.
A massive search near the mangroves around the camp, led by DCP Navnath Dhawale, eventually found Shariful. A team led by DCP Navnath Dhawale found someone lying on the ground after scanning the area with torches. “As an officer moved closer, the person got up and started running,” IE quoted sources as saying.
During questioning, Shehzad admitted he saw his pictures on TV after the incident and fled to Thane. He turned off his phone and hid near a labour camp.
Police custody till January 24
On Sunday, a Mumbai court remanded Shariful in police custody until January 24, considering that the police’s contention of an international conspiracy cannot be ruled out.
Saif Ali Khan, 54, was stabbed multiple times during the January 16 attack at his 12-floor apartment. Doctors said that if the knife had pierced 2 mm deeper, the injuries could have been far more severe.
Following surgery, Khan was discharged from the hospital and returned home on Tuesday.
With inputs from agencies
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