August 2, 2025

In a notable incident in Kolkata, a 28-year-old Bangladeshi model and actress, Shanta Pal, was apprehended in the Bikramgarh area on Wednesday. This arrest occurred following a first information report (FIR) registered against her on July 28 at the Park Street police station, where she faced allegations of cheating and criminal conspiracy. Police disclosed that her modus operandi involved posing as an Indian citizen to operate a car rental business. The Kolkata police's detective department conducted investigations leading to the seizure of various identification documents from Pal. Among the items confiscated were two Aadhaar cards, an Indian voter ID card, a ration card, and multiple documents including her Bangladeshi passport and travel papers. According to officials, one of the seized Aadhaar cards was linked to an address in East Burdwan district issued five years prior, while the other bore an address in Kolkata. Pal was known for her food vlogs on Facebook, with her last video upload taking place on July 28 before her arrest. This event unfolds against a backdrop of political controversy in West Bengal concerning the detention of numerous migrant workers from the state. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of using these detentions as a strategy to influence electoral rolls ahead of the 2026 assembly polls, a claim that the BJP has vehemently denied. Additionally, the rising tension concerning the treatment of migrant workers has led the West Bengal police to establish a helpline aimed at supporting Bengali-speaking laborers. However, the BJP has criticized this move as politically charged, asserting that it targets Bengali Hindus. In response, opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari has initiated a separate helpline focused on Bengali Hindus in West Bengal. This incident illustrates the complexities surrounding identity, immigration, and the political climate in West Bengal, particularly concerning the treatment of migrant workers from neighboring Bangladesh. As investigations continue, the implications of Pal's arrest extend beyond the individual case, reflecting broader societal issues related to migration and national identity in the region.

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Tags: Kolkata, Bangladesh, Cheating, Impersonation, Migrant workers,