In a significant move following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam and the subsequent Operation Sindoor, the Indian government has commenced the repatriation of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants residing in the country. The first batch of approximately 150 individuals, apprehended during a crackdown in Rajasthan’s Sikar district, were transported under tight security to the Jodhpur Air Force Station on Wednesday, marking the initial step in a larger campaign to identify and deport undocumented Bangladeshi citizens.
Escorted by a team of Sikar Police, the bus carrying the 148 Bangladeshi nationals arrived at the Jodhpur Air Force Station where their attendance was meticulously recorded, and their belongings were handed over to army officials in the presence of DCP Alok Srivastava. A robust security detail, comprising Airport Police, Ratanada Police, and the Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC), was deployed along the entire route from Sikar to Jodhpur to ensure the safe transit of the individuals. From Jodhpur, the group will be flown to West Bengal via a special aircraft, where they will be handed over to the Border Security Force (BSF) for the final handover to Bangladeshi security forces across the international border.
#BREAKING | Rajasthan: First batch of illegal Bangladeshi nationals caught in recent days brought to Jodhpur today for deportation.
India begins sending them back to Bangladesh.#Bangladesh #Illegalimmigration pic.twitter.com/snyaqJpaSL
— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) May 14, 2025
This repatriation drive is a direct consequence of the heightened security concerns following the Pahalgam terror attack, which prompted the Centre to launch a nationwide campaign targeting illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. Operation Sindoor, while primarily focused on counter-terrorism efforts, has seemingly broadened its scope to include the identification and deportation of individuals residing in India without proper documentation.
The scale of the operation in Rajasthan alone is significant, with authorities having apprehended 1,008 suspected Bangladeshi citizens across 17 districts. Jaipur accounted for the largest number with 761 individuals identified, followed by Sikar with 394. This suggests a widespread presence of undocumented immigrants in the state, prompting a large-scale logistical effort for their repatriation.
The crackdown extends beyond Rajasthan, as evidenced by the recent apprehension of a Bangladeshi family of six in Delhi’s Bawana area on Monday. Sahidul Hossain (45), his wife Parul Begum (35), and their four children had been residing in the national capital for over five years after illegally crossing into India via West Bengal in 2019. According to police reports, Hossain confessed to entering India through unfenced agricultural fields near the border, originating from their village in Bangladesh’s Kurigram district. The recovery of Bangladeshi identity cards further solidified their illegal status.
