In a continued nationwide crackdown on illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, agencies have intensified operations, particularly in Gujarat. On Wednesday (February 12), Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghvi announced that 15 Bangladeshi infiltrators had been successfully deported.
Taking to social media platform X, Sanghvi stated, “Ahmedabad Crime Branch took action against anti-national activities! 15 immigrants successfully sent to Bangladesh.”
Ahmedabad Crime Branch Cracks Down on Anti-National Activities!
Successfully deported 15 immigrants to Bangladesh.
– Identified and arrested persons involved in trafficking minor girls for prostitution
– Busted a racket producing fake Indian documents for illegal immigrants
-… pic.twitter.com/agkzS5gkHU— Harsh Sanghavi (@sanghaviharsh) February 12, 2025
Authorities revealed that among the arrested individuals, some were involved in a human trafficking network that targeted minor girls for prostitution. Investigations led to the busting of a racket that specialised in fabricating Indian identity documents such as Aadhaar cards, enabling illegal immigrants to remain undetected in the country.
The Ahmedabad Crime Branch spearheaded the deportation process. So far, 50 infiltrators have been arrested following raids conducted in areas such as Chandola and Danilimda. Out of these, 15 individuals, including a minor, have been sent back to Bangladesh, while deportation procedures for the remaining 35 are underway.
Authorities found that many of these individuals had been living in Ahmedabad under coercion and were allegedly engaged in activities against national security. Seized documents and subsequent investigations provided conclusive evidence of their Bangladeshi citizenship, prompting legal action for their removal from the country.
On February 1, the 15 Bangladeshi nationals, including the minor, were deported following confirmation of their citizenship by the Bangladeshi embassy. Officials have indicated that the remaining 35 are expected to be deported by March.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Bharat Patel disclosed that women forced into prostitution were exploited by traffickers, with funds generated from their activities being transferred to Bangladesh under the guise of trade. Law enforcement agencies are now tracing the money trail and investigating further links to human trafficking syndicates.
The crackdown on illegal immigration is not limited to Gujarat. In Delhi, teams from the Dwarka district police detained 16 individuals suspected of overstaying in India without valid visas. Among them, five were identified as Bangladeshi nationals: Mohd Sharif (54), Najrul Shiekh (50), his wife Parveen (25), and their two children. Several other foreign nationals, allegedly from African countries, were also apprehended.
Following verification, the detainees were presented before the Foreign Regional Registration Office (FRRO), which ordered their deportation. They have since been transferred to a detention center while deportation arrangements are finalised.
Meanwhile, in Mumbai, the RCF police arrested seven Bangladeshi nationals who had been living illegally in Chembur’s Mahul village for the past five years. The arrested individuals comprised three men and four women, and authorities are further investigating their activities during their stay in India.
With rising concerns over illegal immigration and its links to organised crime, authorities are intensifying efforts to identify, apprehend, and deport individuals staying in India without legal documentation. Further investigations are ongoing into the human trafficking networks, financial transactions, and the organised syndicates that facilitate such operations.
Officials have reiterated their commitment to national security, with more raids and deportations expected in the coming weeks.
