Mumbai: In a fresh crackdown on illegal immigration, Mumbai Police arrested 25 Bangladeshi nationals from the Yuri Nagar area of Andheri West.

The operation was conducted by the Versova division of the Mumbai Police in coordination with the Anti-Terrorism Cell (ATC), following specific intelligence inputs.

Police sources said the team carried out a targeted operation in the locality, leading to the detention of the 25 individuals for allegedly residing in the city without valid documents.

Further investigations are underway to trace others who may be part of the network and to identify those who allegedly facilitated their illegal entry and stay in Mumbai, the police said.

The action comes amid an intensified drive against undocumented foreign nationals in the city. Earlier this week, a Bangladeshi woman was arrested in Vile Parle. It was later discovered that the same woman was deported to Bangladesh 6 months ago when she was discovered living illegally in Mira Bhayandar for 25 Years. Authorities have initiated fresh deportation proceedings against her.

Police indicated that porous border security and alleged collusion by certain personnel along the West Bengal border remain key concerns contributing to illegal infiltration.

Data shared by the police highlights the scale of the issue. Over the past three years, 1,758 Bangladeshi nationals have been detained in Mumbai for allegedly residing without valid documentation. Of these, 1,238 have already been deported, while the remaining cases are at various stages of legal processing.

As part of the ongoing crackdown, between January 1 and February 20, 2026, the police detained 113 Bangladeshi nationals. So far, 27 have been deported, and legal formalities are underway for the others.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Satyanarayan Chaudhary stated that in 2025 alone, 1,100 Bangladeshi nationals were deported. During the year, 150 cases were registered involving 224 accused. All cases are currently pending before the court and deportation proceedings will be completed after obtaining the necessary judicial orders.

Police have reiterated that the drive will continue in the coming weeks.

Mumbai: In a serious security breach amid rising incidents of copper cable theft in the city, unidentified persons attempted to steal a high-voltage copper cable from the Mumbai Monorail corridor along the Eastern Freeway in Chembur. The RCF police have registered a case and launched a search for the accused.

The attempted theft took place between Monorail pillars 2B-57 and 2B-58 on the Chembur stretch of the corridor.

According to the FIR, the complainant, Faiz Ahmed Mohammed Iqbal Shaikh, 39, works as an Electrical Supervisor with Mumbai Monorail and is currently posted at the Wadala Depot in the Power Supply Traction Department. The monorail receives its incoming power supply from a substation located at Mysore Colony in Chembur.

On February 10, 2026, at around 1:30 am, Shaikh’s electrical team conducted a routine inspection of cables along the monorail guideway between Chembur and Sant Gadge Maharaj Chowk. At that time, all cables were found to be intact.

However, in the early hours of February 22, 2026, a civil department team of the monorail was returning to the Wadala Depot after clearing obstructions from the track. At around 2:00 am, when the team reached the Eastern Freeway, traffic police personnel on duty stopped their vehicle and inquired whether any authorised work was being carried out on the monorail line.

The civil department staff clarified that no work was scheduled at that location. The traffic constable then informed them that some individuals were seen cutting cables on the monorail viaduct.

The team immediately inspected the stretch between pillars 2B-57 and 2B-58 and found that the 22 kV copper armoured cable had been cut. They also spotted a few unidentified persons attempting to remove the cable.

On seeing the officials, the suspects fled the spot, abandoning the partially cut cable. Police said the accused had attempted to steal approximately 27 metres of 22 kV, 240 sq mm, three-core copper cable worth around Rs 1.5 lakh.

Following the incident, Shaikh lodged a complaint with the RCF police station. A case has been registered against unknown persons under Sections 303 and 62 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act.

Police officials said efforts are underway to identify and apprehend the culprits, and further investigation is in progress.

Mumbai: A 45-year-old jewellery trader from Borivali received an extortion threat of Rs 30 lakh via WhatsApp from an international mobile number. In the message, the accused claimed that the money was to be paid to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. During a subsequent call, the accused threatened to kill the trader like Baba Siddique if he failed to pay the money.

According to the FIR, Swara Jewellers, operated by Chahat Shah, is located at Gulmohar Shop in Borivali West. The complainant, Kiran Suryavanshi, 45, has been working as the shop manager since 2025.

On February 18 at 7:21 am, a WhatsApp message was received on the shop’s mobile number from an international number (+447474789883). The message, written in Hindi, demanded Rs 30 lakh as extortion money and threatened to kill the shop owner in the same manner as Baba Siddique if the payment was not made within 24 hours.

On February 19 at 11:18 am, a WhatsApp call was received on the shop’s number from the same international number, which was answered by manager Uma Shankar. The same threat was repeated, followed by a message stating in Hindi that they would soon be killed.

On February 21 at 3:10 am, another message was received from the same number demanding money and threatening to kill them if they failed to pay.

The shop employees then decided to respond and began communicating via text messages. The employees initially offered Rs 1 lakh, but the accused rejected the offer and demanded Rs 10 lakh, again threatening to kill them if the money was not paid.

The caller later negotiated down to Rs 4 lakh and provided an Indian Google Pay number, instructing the employees to transfer Rs 1 lakh first and the remaining amount later.

The employees informed shop owner Shah about the development, following which a case was registered. Police are investigating the matter.