New Delhi:
In a shocking turn of events, Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan was stabbed multiple times by an intruder at his Mumbai residence, highlighting a disturbing lapse in security and the pervasive issue of illegal immigration in India. The attacker, identified as Shariful Islam Shehzad, a 30-year-old Bangladeshi national, entered India illegally and used multiple aliases to evade detection.
Shehzad’s journey into India began seven months ago when he crossed the Dawki River along the India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya. Adopting multiple identities, including Vijay Das and Bijoy Das, he managed to blend into the local population. He used an Aadhaar card belonging to a West Bengal resident, Khukumoni Jahangir Sekh, to obtain a SIM card, further solidifying his fake identity.
After a brief stay in West Bengal, Shehzad moved to Mumbai in search of employment. Here, he secured housekeeping jobs in pubs and hotels in the Worli and Thane areas, aided by a labour contractor named Amit Pandey. Shehzad deliberately chose jobs that did not require proper documentation, allowing him to maintain his anonymity.
On January 16, Shehzad gained entry into Saif Ali Khan’s residence in the Satguru Sharan building in Bandra by scaling the compound wall, exploiting the fact that the security guards were asleep. The lack of CCTV cameras in the building’s corridor facilitated his undetected entry. Inside, he confronted a staff member, leading to a violent altercation with Saif Ali Khan, who intervened and was subsequently stabbed multiple times during a robbery attempt.
Saif Ali Khan suffered severe stab wounds, including one near his thoracic spine, and was rushed to Lilavati Hospital for emergency surgery. The actor underwent a 2.5-inch blade removal and was kept under close medical supervision before being discharged on January 21.
Shehzad was arrested three days after the attack in Thane, following an extensive investigation involving CCTV footage and digital clues. The police found several outgoing calls to Bangladesh-based numbers on his phone and used mobile apps to communicate with his family, which helped in confirming his Bangladeshi nationality. He was remanded to police custody for five days to investigate possible international conspiracy and other aspects of the crime.
Saif Ali Khan’s discharge from the hospital marked a significant milestone in his recovery, though he was advised bed rest for a week. The incident has raised critical questions about the security measures in place at celebrity residences and the broader issue of illegal immigration in India. The police have intensified their investigation, including examining CCTV footage and interviewing witnesses, to ensure such incidents are prevented in the future.
