Delhi: Police set to deport Sonali Sheikh, a Bangladeshi national living in India illegally for past 6 years

Following the Lieutenant Governor (LG) Secretariat’s directive to identify and take action against “unlawful immigrants from Bangladesh” residing in the capital, the Delhi Police announced on Friday, December 27, that they are preparing to deport a 28-year-old woman shortly. This marks the first official deportation order issued in Delhi’s South West district under the new initiative.

The woman, identified as Sonali Sheikh, was residing in the Ruchi Vihar area of Mahipalpur. Authorities stated that Sheikh was unable to produce any legitimate documents to support her claim of being an Indian citizen. According to police, Sheikh’s case stood out as she did not possess even basic identity documents such as an Aadhaar card, which is often obtained by illegal immigrants in border states like Assam and West Bengal.

“Usually, even illegal immigrants have Aadhaar cards made in border states like Assam and West Bengal. But in this case, she did not have any… She was taken from the FRRO office to the Sewa Sadan and is currently there awaiting deportation,” said a police officer involved in the operation.

The Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) has issued an order to house Sheikh at Sewa Sadan in Shahzada Bagh until her deportation process is finalised.

Police reports revealed that Sheikh and her family migrated from the Narail district of Bangladesh to India approximately six years ago. Initially settling in Mumbai, Sheikh worked as a domestic helper while her father, mother, and younger brother lived with her. However, the family’s circumstances changed after the death of her father three years ago. Sheikh then became the family’s sole breadwinner.

The high cost of living in Mumbai prompted Sheikh to send her mother and younger brother back to Narail while she continued to support them financially from India. About 18 months ago, she moved to Delhi, where she lived in a makeshift dwelling in Ruchi Vihar and worked as a ragpicker while seeking employment as a domestic helper.

Under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Surendra Choudhary, the South West district’s anti-narcotics unit apprehended Sheikh on Wednesday. This arrest was part of a larger campaign against illegal immigrants following the LG’s 10 December order.

DCP Choudhary stated, “The deportee, Sonali, was found residing in a jhuggi in Ruchi Vihar, thereby violating the provisions of the Foreigners Act.” Sheikh’s detention and subsequent transfer to Sewa Sadan represent the first step in the South West district’s implementation of the LG Secretariat’s crackdown on illegal immigrants.

Authorities confirmed that the deportation process for Sheikh is underway, marking a precedent in the district’s efforts to address concerns related to illegal immigration. The campaign is expected to continue, with further identification and action against undocumented immigrants residing in Delhi.