Railway Protection Force officers in Kanpur detained three Myanmar nationals—believed to be Rohingya refugees—after discovering they lacked valid entry papers during a routine train sweep on the Poorvottar Sampark Kranti Express.
Interrogation revealed the group had slipped into India via Bangladesh in 2024 and were en route to Jammu via Delhi.
The arrests are among the first to be booked under Section 21 of the Immigration & Foreigners Act 2025, which imposes steeper penalties (up to five years’ imprisonment) for illegal entry and onward facilitation.
One suspect allegedly helped dozens relocate from camps in Cox’s Bazar to Indian cities for daily-wage work.
Local police are tracking money-transfer links to determine whether a larger trafficking network is involved.
![Rohingya trio arrested in Kanpur under new Immigration & Foreigners Act]()
For individuals trying to navigate India’s complex immigration framework—whether refugees seeking regularisation or companies sponsoring foreign staff—services like VisaHQ can simplify the process. The firm’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) offers real-time visa guidance, document checklists and application support, helping applicants remain compliant with evolving rules and avoid the heavy penalties highlighted in this case.
Uttar Pradesh already runs facial-recognition checks at 28 railway stations; authorities say the system has flagged 219 foreign nationals this year.
For businesses employing contract labour near border states, the episode underscores the need for stringent identity-verification protocols.
Under the amended Act, employers face fines of ₹50,000 per undocumented worker.
Housing-society associations have also been told to file ‘tenant information forms’ for any foreign resident within 24 hours.
Interrogation revealed the group had slipped into India via Bangladesh in 2024 and were en route to Jammu via Delhi.
The arrests are among the first to be booked under Section 21 of the Immigration & Foreigners Act 2025, which imposes steeper penalties (up to five years’ imprisonment) for illegal entry and onward facilitation.
One suspect allegedly helped dozens relocate from camps in Cox’s Bazar to Indian cities for daily-wage work.
Local police are tracking money-transfer links to determine whether a larger trafficking network is involved.
For individuals trying to navigate India’s complex immigration framework—whether refugees seeking regularisation or companies sponsoring foreign staff—services like VisaHQ can simplify the process. The firm’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) offers real-time visa guidance, document checklists and application support, helping applicants remain compliant with evolving rules and avoid the heavy penalties highlighted in this case.
Uttar Pradesh already runs facial-recognition checks at 28 railway stations; authorities say the system has flagged 219 foreign nationals this year.
For businesses employing contract labour near border states, the episode underscores the need for stringent identity-verification protocols.
Under the amended Act, employers face fines of ₹50,000 per undocumented worker.
Housing-society associations have also been told to file ‘tenant information forms’ for any foreign resident within 24 hours.
