Delhi Police deported 18 Bangladeshi nationals and arrested three others, after they were found to have been residing illegally in India for up to 20 years. The action is part of a broader, ongoing special drive by the Central District Police to identify and apprehend illegal foreign nationals living in the national capital.
The operation, initiated by the Delhi Police in response to a directive from Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, has been a critical step in addressing concerns about the growing involvement of illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya immigrants in criminal offenses across the region. Saxena had previously raised alarms over the rising number of such infiltrators and their increasing criminal activities in the capital.
According to M Harshavardhan, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) for Central Delhi, the latest operation targeted illegal immigrants living in various parts of Central Delhi. The authorities focused on identifying those who had overstayed their visas or entered the country through illegal means.
As part of the operation, 18 Bangladeshi nationals were deported, while three others, including one minor, were arrested. The three detained individuals were found to have been staying illegally in the national capital and were linked to a more serious crime of forgery and cheating. They were discovered to be in possession of fake Indian passports and other fraudulent identification documents, including Aadhar cards and voter IDs.
The three individuals had reportedly entered India illegally nearly 20 years ago and had been living under assumed identities, making use of these forged documents. The police investigation revealed that these documents appeared genuine at first glance but were, in fact, obtained using fraudulent methods. This prompted the Delhi Police to take action, which culminated in the arrest and deportation of the involved individuals.
In a significant development, DCP Harshavardhan confirmed that the police had identified a middleman involved in the creation of fake documents for the illegal Bangladeshi nationals. The middleman is believed to have facilitated the production of the forged passports, Aadhar cards, and voter IDs used by these individuals to blend into Indian society over the years. Authorities are currently conducting a search for the middleman, who is believed to be a key player in a larger network responsible for such illegal activities.
“The passports appear genuine; however, the documents used to obtain them are fraudulent. We are in the process of investigating this matter further and have identified a person who was assisting these nationals in procuring fake documents,” said DCP Harshavardhan.
This operation is part of a larger crackdown on illegal immigration that has intensified in the wake of several high-profile incidents involving illegal immigrants. One such incident, which occurred in Mumbai, involved the arrest of a Bangladeshi national in connection with a break-in and assault on Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan. Following this, Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena raised concerns about the increasing criminal activities by illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya immigrants in the capital.
On January 20, Saxena directed the Delhi Police Commissioner to launch a special mission mode operation to identify and apprehend such infiltrators. In addition to the arrest and deportation efforts, Saxena also instructed the police to initiate an outreach program to educate the public about the importance of verifying the backgrounds of employees, domestic workers, and even construction laborers, to enhance the security and safety of Delhi’s residents.
The outreach program, which is expected to include print and social media campaigns, aims to raise awareness among the public regarding the critical need for background checks on individuals working in households, offices, and construction sites. The police are urging citizens to ensure proper verification of the identity and legal status of workers they employ, in the interest of maintaining safety and security in their communities.
