The Anti Human Trafficking cell of Thane district rural police had apprehended the twenty people from Mira Bhayander near Thane in January 2013. When asked for, none of them could furnish any valid documents that could prove that they are Indian citizens, police had said.
According to police, all of them belonged to Bangladesh and had been residing in Mira-Bhayander area since at least a year before they were held.
On Monday, Thane Assistant Sessions Judge S G Girdhari held them guilty of illegal stay and awarded two years simple imprisonment to each. The court also slapped a fine of Rs 10,000 on each, failing which they have to serve another six months jail term.
Those convicted are Nazma Akram Shaikh (37), Zarina Akram Shaikh (40), Shahanur Farukh Shaikh, (40), Firoza Foka Aladar (40), Makhuja Musa Biswas (40), Nazma Arshadali Sardar (45), Ruchi Rehmat Khaleda (27), Kabir Abdulaher Ali (19), Jamirhusain Isaq Haldar (33), Badchu Mohd. Idris Mulla (45), Nilo Sarhar Kazi (48), Jakir Sattar Kazi (45), Afroza Shukur Shaikh (22), Aliya Mohd Kamal Mulla (25), Hasina Akram Mulla (35), Ayesha Alamgir Fakir (25), Vajifa Abed Mulla (22), Noorjaha Shariful Islam (25), Rubina Shivtan Kazi (48) and Parvin Alam Khan (25).