Convoy of 19 vehicles ferrying 160 illegal Bangladeshi migrants to Pune for deportation hit a pile up, 19 cops among 31 injured

An official from Raigad police said that around 6.30am, a container truck overturned near the Bhatan tunnel of the Mumbai Pune Express Highway. A hydra crane was called to clear the container due to which two of the three lanes were shut for traffic.

Around 7.45am, the police convoy with 160 Bangladeshi nationals that was headed to Lohegaon airport in Pune reached the spot. One of the vehicles that was going ahead applied sudden brakes, leading to a pile-up of the convoy, including the van in which the immigrants were carried, escort vehicles and pilot vehicles. Six vehicles were damaged in the incident.

“Out of the 19 policemen who were injured, Vijay Mane from the Protection Branch in Mumbai suffered serious injuries. Approximately, 12 Bangladeshi immigrants also suffered minor injuries. All the injured were immediately rushed to MGM Hospital Navi Mumbai,” an official said.

Except for those injured, the remaining team then proceeded to complete the deportation process. An official added that the logistics of deportation were arranged by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), Mumbai.

Superintendent of Police (Raigad) Aanchal Dalal said that they have taken details of the case at the local Rasayani police station and are checking if an offence should be registered in connection with the incident.

Of the 160 immigrants, 75 were detained by Navi Mumbai police, 40 by Mumbai police, 23 by Thane city while 22 from Mira Bhayandar Vasai Virar police commissionerates.

Over the past few months, on directives by the Central government, the police have identified Bangladeshi nationals, dropped them at the Indo-Bangladeshi border outposts in Indian Air Force flights and pushed them across the border.