NEW DELHI, Dec 8 – At least 31,229 Bangladeshi nationals who have entered into the country with valid documents have vanished last year. The number of overstaying Bangladeshi nationals is highest among foreigners. Furthermore, there are reports of foreign nationals having entered into thecountry without valid travel documents. As entry of such foreign nationals into the country is clandestine and surreptitious, it is not possible to estimate the total number of such illegal immigrants staying in the country, said Minister of State for Home Affairs M Ramachandran
Certain instances of some illegal immigrants having obtained ration cards, voter identity cards and driving licences through fraudulent means have been reported, said the Minister.
In 2006, 24,497 such Bangladeshi nationals have vanished and in 2007, 25,712 nationals of the neighbouring country disappeared.