Afghan man arrested at Bhubaneswar airport
In a dramatic crackdown on illegal immigration and identity fraud, authorities at Bhubaneswar’s Biju Patnaik International Airport arrested an Afghan national, Mohammad Yousaf also known by his forged Indian alias, Yaha Khan for living undetected in India since 2018.
Afghan man arrested at Bhubaneswar airport
Yousaf was apprehended after immigration officials grew suspicious of the passport he presented. Though his documents identified him as “Yaha Khan, S/o Moti Khan, Cuttack,” a system check raised red flags. A Look-Out Circular issued at Kolkata Airport confirmed what the officials feared: “Yaha Khan” was actually Mohammad Yousaf, an Afghan citizen holding an authentic Afghan passport.
Afghan man arrested at Bhubaneswar airport
Further investigation revealed that Yousaf had been living in the Petinmati area of Cuttack for years, blending into the local community under his false identity. He had managed to fraudulently obtain Indian documents including an Aadhaar card, PAN card, voter ID, driving license, and even a gas connection, enough to pass as a legitimate Indian citizen and move freely within the country, and possibly even overseas.
Afghan man arrested at Bhubaneswar airport
Following his arrest, joint operations conducted by the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissionerate and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) led to the seizure of a haul of fake identity documents, foreign currency, cash, gold jewellery, mobile phones, and other valuables. Yousaf reportedly admitted to using the forged identity to run a business and sustain his life in Odisha.
Afghan man arrested at Bhubaneswar airport
Authorities are now probing how he acquired such an extensive range of fake documents, and whether he had inside help from local agents or corrupt officials. The NIA is also investigating the possibility that he used the forged passport for international travel.
Afghan man arrested at Bhubaneswar airport
The case has since widened. Three other Afghan nationals namely Alam Khan, Sher Khan, and Amir Khan also residing in Cuttack are now under scrutiny for allegedly possessing fake Indian documents and living in India illegally.
Afghan man arrested at Bhubaneswar airport
In a related operation, Assam Police arrested four more Afghan nationals from a rented house in Guwahati’s Hatigaon area. Acting on a tip-off, police raided the premises near Little Flower School and took Aman Khan, Rizwan Khan, Yusuf Zahid, and Asif Rana into custody. They had reportedly been living in Assam since 2015 without any legal documentation.
Afghan man arrested at Bhubaneswar airport
Authorities suspect a broader network of forged identity operations and are coordinating with central intelligence agencies and passport authorities to trace its full extent. The investigations are ongoing, and more arrests are expected in the coming days.
