Ahmedabad Police detain over 300 suspected illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in citywide crackdown

In one of the largest coordinated crackdowns on illegal immigration in recent years, Ahmedabad Police on Tuesday detained more than 300 suspected Bangladeshi nationals during an overnight citywide search operation conducted across several identified hotspots.

The operation, codenamed Operation Delta, involved personnel from the Detection of Ahmedabad Crime Branch, local police stations, the Special Operations Group (SOG) and the Cyber Crime Cell.

According to police officials, more than 30 teams were deployed across the city to conduct simultaneous searches in areas suspected of harbouring illegal immigrants.

The operation primarily targeted Narol, Vatva, Odhav, Isanpur, Danilimda, Sarkhej, and Naroda, where a significant number of suspected Bangladeshi nationals were found residing without valid documentation.

Commissioner of Police G S Malik said nearly 300 individuals had been detained for verification, of whom 166, comprising 41 men, 95 women, and 30 children, had been prima facie identified as Bangladeshi nationals during the initial stage of the investigation. Verification of the remaining detainees was still underway.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Sharad Singhal said the suspects were brought to the Crime Branch headquarters, where officials were scrutinising identity documents, Aadhaar cards, and other records to determine their nationality and legal status.

Investigators have also recovered several Indian identity documents from the detainees, raising concerns about a possible network involved in procuring forged or fraudulently obtained documents.

Police said a detailed inquiry would be conducted to identify local agents and facilitators who may have helped the immigrants obtain Aadhaar cards and other government-issued documents.

Officials said several detainees had been residing in Ahmedabad for months, while some had reportedly been living in the city for a considerably longer period. Many of the men were engaged in tailoring, waste collection, and other daily-wage occupations, while a number of women were allegedly working in spas and were suspected of being involved in prostitution-related activities.

Sources said the police operation triggered panic among several undocumented immigrants. Some allegedly attempted to flee towards railway stations, while others reportedly left the city by road and bus services after learning about the searches.

Police are also examining financial transactions to ascertain whether money earned in India was being remitted to Bangladesh through informal channels. Investigators are expected to scrutinise the role of local agents and angadia operators suspected of facilitating cross-border fund transfers.

Officials said more than 150 detainees were currently undergoing detailed interrogation, while the overall number of illegal immigrants identified during the operation could rise as verification continues.

According to police records, authorities had detained 465 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants across Gujarat during similar drives conducted last year.

Ahmedabad Police said deportation proceedings against confirmed Bangladeshi nationals would be initiated in coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs and other central agencies. Officials added that the crackdown against illegal immigration would continue in the coming days as part of an ongoing statewide campaign.