Gujarat : Over 1,200 Illegal Bangladeshis Detained in Statewide Operation

Ahmedabad/Surat – In the aftermath of the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat has launched its biggest crackdown yet against illegal Bangladeshi nationals residing across the state. In a swift, coordinated operation, over 1,200 Bangladeshi citizens illegally living in Ahmedabad, Surat, and rural areas have been detained for verification and deportation.

The action was set in motion after an urgent high-level meeting in Gandhinagar chaired by Gujarat’s Minister of State for Home, Shri Harsh Sanghavi, where he directed top police officials to intensify verification drives and ensure immediate deportation.

“Those illegally staying in Gujarat will not be spared. They must voluntarily surrender within two days or face strict legal action,” warned Minister Harsh Sanghavi.

Massive Raids Across Gujarat

The operation commenced on the night of April 25, resulting in the arrest of 890 Bangladeshis in Ahmedabad and 134 in Surat city. Surat Rural Police arrested an additional 245 foreign nationals, of whom 60 have been confirmed as Bangladeshi. Authorities have revealed that many of these infiltrators had been living in Gujarat for years, primarily working as casual labourers or engaged in illegal activities.

The arrested individuals were found concentrated in areas like Kadodara, Palsana, Kamrej, and Kosamba, with a significant number—particularly women—working in informal sectors or even prostitution rings.

State Police Chief Shri Vikas Sahay confirmed during a press conference,“Some Bangladeshis have been deported multiple times but managed to re-enter using forged documents. Investigations reveal a major nexus operating out of West Bengal creating fake Aadhaar cards, ration cards, and other Indian IDs.”

Deep-Rooted Networks and Criminal Activities

During interrogation, it surfaced that some of the arrested individuals have past criminal records, involving drug trafficking, human trafficking, and other illegal enterprises. Alarmingly, two of the detained individuals are under investigation for alleged links to Al-Qaeda sleeper cells, signaling a grave threat to national security.

Vikas Sahay emphasized,“This operation is not just about illegal residence. It’s about dismantling dangerous networks operating under the radar, threatening our state’s safety.”

Strong Warning to Shelter Providers

In a stern message, Harsh Sanghavi directed police chiefs and intelligence units across Gujarat to book those found harboring illegal migrants.

“We will not only deport the infiltrators but will also ensure that their enablers face the harshest legal penalties,” he said during the video conference.

Following verification, individuals without legitimate documentation will be deported to Bangladesh in collaboration with the central government. Deportation procedures are already underway, with officials planning to complete the first batch of removals within this week.

Meanwhile, the Joint Interrogation Centre continues detailed questioning to uncover deeper criminal or terror links among the detainees.