Reports of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants entering India have surfaced repeatedly, raising concerns over unauthorised cross-border movement. Recently, the Delhi Police, through a targeted verification campaign, arrested eight Bangladeshi nationals residing illegally in the city’s South-West district. This operation marks another instance of stringent action against infiltrators, following similar arrests in cities like Mumbai and Thane.
Details of the Operation
The Delhi Police launched a comprehensive campaign to identify and arrest illegal immigrants in the South-West district. The verification drive, which involved door-to-door document checks across approximately 400 households, led to the arrest of eight Bangladeshi nationals, including one man and one woman.
The arrested individuals—identified as Sirajul, Fatima, Ashima, Jahangir, Parina Begum, Zaheer, Ahid, and Wahid—were found residing in the RK Puram area of Delhi. They were working as labourers in various sectors. Following their arrest, the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) facilitated their deportation to Bangladesh.
Background and Arrests
According to police sources, intelligence had indicated the presence of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in the Hanuman Mazdoor Camp area of RK Puram, Sector 2. Acting on this information, the police identified a group of individuals seeking rented accommodations in the area.
During the operation, one individual, Firoz, initially claimed to be a resident of West Bengal. However, under sustained interrogation, he admitted to being from Madaripur, Bangladesh. Firoz further disclosed that his parents had entered India illegally in 1990 via forest routes and later settled in Delhi using express trains for transit.
Firoz’s History of Deportation
Firoz’s confession revealed a history of illegal immigration. He had previously been deported to Bangladesh in 2004 but managed to re-enter India in 2022. Since his return, he has been working in small businesses such as shops and dhabas in Delhi.
Verification Drive Outcomes
The police campaign in the South-West district was notable for its thoroughness. Officers conducted door-to-door checks, scrutinizing documents of approximately 400 families to identify illegal immigrants. The eight arrested individuals confessed to entering India through forest routes and trains, highlighting the porous nature of certain border areas.
Speaking about the operation, a senior officer from the South-West district stated, “Our aim is to ensure that individuals residing in the capital city comply with immigration laws. We remain committed to identifying and deporting illegal immigrants in coordination with the FRRO.”
Similar Cases reported this month
On December 28, Organiser reported about the deportation of a Bangladeshi woman living in Delhi for the past six years. 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.
On December 25, Organiser reported a similar instance where, Delhi Police arrested 11 individuals, including five Bangladeshi nationals and six Indians, who were part of a large gang involved in generating fraudulent Aadhaar cards, birth certificates, and other identity documents for illegal immigrants.
The operation was launched by the Delhi Police following investigations into a network that was facilitating illegal immigrants, primarily from Bangladesh, in obtaining Indian identity documents.
