Over 1,000 Illegal Bangladeshi Immigrants Detained in Gujarat Crackdown

In a significant operation targeting illegal immigration, Gujarat police have detained over 1,000 Bangladeshi nationals, including women and children, across Ahmedabad and Surat. This marks one of the largest such crackdowns in the state's history.​

According to Harsh Sanghavi, Minister of State for Home, 890 individuals were apprehended in Ahmedabad, while 134 were detained in Surat. The operation, which commenced early Saturday morning, involved coordinated combing operations aimed at identifying and detaining illegal immigrants residing in the state.​

The detained individuals are reported to have entered India using forged documents obtained from West Bengal. Many are allegedly involved in illicit activities such as human trafficking, hawala operations, and have connections to terrorist organizations. Notably, two of the recent detainees were found to have links with Al-Qaeda sleeper cells, highlighting the national security concerns associated with illegal immigration.​

Sanghavi emphasized the state's zero-tolerance policy towards illegal immigration and warned that those harboring such individuals would face legal consequences. He also stated that the deportation process for the detained individuals is underway, with coordination between Gujarat police, the Border Security Force, and the central government.​

The operation has drawn attention to the broader issue of illegal immigration in India, with authorities focusing on areas like Chandola Lake in Ahmedabad, where encroachments by illegal immigrants have been documented. In previous operations, over 50 individuals were detained for possessing fake Indian identity documents, and several were involved in human trafficking networks.
The Gujarat government's actions reflect a concerted effort to address the challenges posed by illegal immigration and its associated risks, including national security threats and social concerns.