LUCKNOW: Keeping in view the safety, in a major step to strengthen internal security, the Uttar Pradesh Police has launched a statewide drive to identify and take action against “infiltrators” and “illegal immigrants.” The move follows Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s order to increase verification and vigilance efforts across all districts. According to the state government, the verification process will be “fair and transparent,” ensuring that law-abiding residents face no inconvenience. However, it warned that “strict action will be taken against those found using fraudulent documents or engaged in suspicious activities.”
The Yogi government has increased surveillance along the Nepal border and in key urban centres such as Lucknow, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Varanasi. Officials said Uttar Pradesh’s location, sharing borders with eight states, one Union Territory, and Nepal, makes it more open to cross-border infiltration.
“In recent years, incidents involving infiltration, fake identity documents, and activities threatening stability have risen in border regions. Unauthorized settlement of foreign nationals under forged identities poses challenges to law and order, social balance, and the equitable distribution of public resources,” a government statement said.
All District Magistrates (DMs) and senior police officials have been instructed to give “top priority” to identifying foreign nationals and reviewing their documents. Districts adjoining Nepal such as Maharajganj, Balrampur, Shravasti, Bahraich, and Siddharthnagar, have been put on high alert due to increased risks of unauthorized entry and fake identity creation.
Officials confirmed that the process of setting up temporary detention centres in each district has begun. These facilities will house individuals under scrutiny until document verification is completed, preventing misuse of government services and easing the strain on local civic infrastructure.
A government spokesperson also highlighted that the unchecked presence of illegal immigrants directly affects “government benefits, employment opportunities, and the fair distribution of resources.” Citing past parliamentary data, the state government noted that former Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju had informed Parliament in 2016 about an estimated 20 million illegal Bangladeshi immigrants residing in India. In 2017, he had also stated that more than 40,000 Rohingya migrants were living illegally across the country.
The government warned that fast-growing urban centres such as Lucknow, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Varanasi are under “greater pressure” due to dense populations and high infrastructural demand, which could worsen if illegal settlements continue unchecked.
CM Yogi’s Directive: “No Compromise on Law and Order”
Earlier this week, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath chaired a high-level meeting directing all DMs to act “swiftly and stringently” against infiltrators. He emphasised that law and order, national security, and social harmony are “non-negotiable priorities” for the state. “Any illegal activity or attempt to disturb peace will be met with zero tolerance,” the CM reportedly told officials, instructing them to provide regular updates on the verification process and ensure every district remains free of illegal immigrants.
