Wanted Bangladeshi held in India

By Subir Bhaumik
BBC News, Calcutta

A man alleged to be one of Bangladesh's leading gangsters has been arrested in the Indian city of Calcutta.

Subrata Bayen was detained on Saturday night by Special Task Force officers, Calcutta police say. He has been charged with illegal entry into India.

Mr Bayen, also known as Fateh Ali, is alleged to run a crime syndicate known as the Seven Star.

He faces deportation to Bangladesh. Last year India handed over five other wanted men to Bangladesh.

'As soon as possible'

Senior police official Rajeev Kumar said Mr Bayen was arrested in the Karaya area of central Calcutta.

He said there were no criminal cases against Mr Bayen in India. He was charged with illegal entry into India without valid travel documents.

Mr Kumar said that Mr Bayen has paid a recent visit to China, but the purpose of the visit was not known.

"We want to send him back as soon as possible but we have to check whether this can be done directly or we will have to go through India's external affairs ministry," Mr Kumar said.

In 2007, Interpol informed the Indian authorities that as many as 23 alleged high-profile Bangladeshi criminals had crossed into West Bengal and taken shelter, mostly in and around Calcutta.

Upset

Last year, the Indian government handed back five Bangladeshis wanted by the Dhaka authorities. In March this year, two others were deported.

However, India is yet to send back another wanted man, Khondkar Tanvirul Islam Joy, who was arrested earlier this year in Calcutta.

Bangladesh is upset with the delay in Mr Joy's repatriation because he is wanted in connection with several major crimes there.