In a crackdown on illegal immigration and environmental violations, the Ahmedabad city crime branch detained 51 Bangladeshi nationals residing unlawfully within the city on October 25. The arrests followed an intensive four-month investigation, during which authorities interrogated approximately 250 individuals and uncovered a complex network of illegal activities that had compromised the region’s ecological health and infrastructure.
The investigation revealed that the illegal immigrants had established makeshift settlements around Chandola Lake, an area that the Narmada water pipeline has historically sustained due to a lack of natural water sources aside from seasonal rainfall.
The crime branch disclosed that these infiltrators had severely disrupted the lake’s water supply by blocking and contaminating the Narmada pipeline with processed waste from the nearby Pirana dumping ground. Satellite imagery from 1985, 2011, and 2024 further corroborated these findings, showing a drastic reduction in the lake’s water levels over the years as encroachments steadily expanded.
Illegal settlements and encroachments on Chandola lake
Reports indicate that a substantial portion of Chandola Lake has been encroached upon by unauthorised shanties built by the immigrants. Satellite images released by the Ahmedabad crime branch display significant encroachments over the past 15 years, leading to a visible reduction in the lake’s water area. The illegal settlements, constructed with no regard for environmental impact, have not only obstructed the pipeline that replenishes the lake but have also allegedly contaminated the local ecosystem by introducing processed waste into the area.
#WATCH | Ahmedabad, Gujarat: Crime Branch ACP Bharat Patel says, “For the past few months, Ahmedabad Crime Branch has been running a drive against illegal Bangladeshi migrants. Under the drive, they are identified and sent back or legal action is taken if they are involved in… pic.twitter.com/KuXa8fp5lB
— ANI (@ANI) October 25, 2024
Responding to the encroachment, the local administration launched an operation to clear these settlements, successfully removing nearly 60-70 per cent of the unauthorised structures around the lake. While many of the inhabitants were detained, a few reportedly managed to evade capture.
Immigrants posed as locals
During interrogations, it was discovered that several Bangladeshis had adopted Hindu names and presented forged documents, including Aadhaar and PAN cards, purportedly signed by a local corporator. Claiming to be from West Bengal, the immigrants exploited government schemes intended for Indian citizens, capitalising on loopholes within the system to access welfare benefits.
Police officials, including Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Ajit Rajian and Joint Commissioner Sharad Singhal, confirmed that many of these individuals had engaged in identity fraud to blend in with local populations.
Hub for trafficking and anti-national activities
Investigators also revealed that Bangladeshi women had initially been brought into Ahmedabad through trafficking networks, with the lake area gradually evolving into a hotspot for illicit activities, including prostitution and suspected anti-national undertakings. Authorities have since bolstered surveillance in the nearby areas and stepped up efforts to identify and dismantle such illegal operations.
Government response
The detentions have sparked heightened concerns among local residents, who are apprehensive about the potential environmental and security implications of these findings. Many community members have voiced their fears over the rising encroachments and the misuse of public resources, prompting the Gujarat government to intensify monitoring of vulnerable sites across the state.
#WATCH | Ahmedabad, Gujarat: Crime Branch detains 48 illegal Bangladeshi migrants pic.twitter.com/wwt7qXwg4k
— ANI (@ANI) October 25, 2024
According to official sources, plans are underway to expedite the deportation of the detained Bangladeshis back to their home country. The government has reiterated its commitment to securing Chandola Lake and restoring its ecological balance by removing any remaining unauthorised settlements and reinforcing legal protections for Ahmedabad’s water resources.
