Mumbai, Dec 14 (IANS): The Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) Mumbai has busted a major racket of illegal migrants from Bangladesh and arrested eight persons, a top official said here on Monday.

Following a tip-off in late November of some anti-national activities received by the ATS Kalachowki unit, the ATS laid a trap and nabbed an illegal Bangladeshi national from Sewree named Akram O. Khan, 28, hailing from Novokhali district in the neighbouring country.

Khan, who had sneaked into India, was engaged in making and supply various fake identity cards and other vital documents to other illegal Bangladeshi immigrants living in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

He in turn was helped by some local contacts like Noornabi of Wadala and Rafiq R. Sayyad, 42, of Mumbra (Thane) to acquire fake Indian passports, PAN cards, Aadhaar cards, birth certificates, rent agreements, ration cards, school leaving certificates, electricity bills, bank cheque books and passbooks, etc, said the ATS.

During custodial interrogation, the ATS learnt that he was engaged in the racket of making and supplying counterfeit passports since 2013.

A scrutiny of records revealed that he had provided at least 85 fake Indian passports and other identity cards to Bangladeshis entering illegally into India.

He revealed the involvement of his other associates in the racket - Idris Mohammed Shaikh, 57, Avin Gangaram Kedare, 35, Nitin Rajaram Nikam, 43, besides Bangladeshi nationals - Sohail A. Shaikh, 33, Abdul K. Samshulhaq, 42, Abul Hasham Shaikh, 26 - who entered India without valid documents and lived here illegally.

The ATS has recovered a large number of fake documents from the accused, besides fake rubber stamps, several mobile phones, laptops, lamination machines, cash of around INR 10 lakh, and Bangladeshi Taka 2,242, as further investigations are underway.