In one of the biggest crackdowns in recent months, Gujarat Police have detained more than 550 Bangladeshi nationals for allegedly residing in India using forged documents, officials confirmed on Saturday. The statewide action was carried out across Ahmedabad and Surat, following intelligence reports and high-level orders from state authorities.

The coordinated operations involved multiple wings of law enforcement, including the Special Operations Group (SOG), Crime Branch, Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU), Prevention of Crime Branch (PCB), and local police stations.

"After investigation, deportation will follow"
Deputy Commissioner of Police (SOG), Rajdeep Singh Nakum, stated that over 100 Bangladeshi nationals were rounded up in Surat during a night-long combing operation. “They had entered India illegally and were living in Surat with forged documents. After the investigation, they will be deported to Bangladesh,” he said.

In Ahmedabad, the Crime Branch detained 457 individuals from the Chandola area, based on specific intelligence suggesting a large group of undocumented immigrants living in the locality.

“We had inputs that a huge number of Bangladeshis are residing in the Chandola area. Early this morning, the police carried out a combing operation. We have detained 457 people so far. Deportation will be processed after interrogation,” said Sharad Singhal, Joint Commissioner of Police, Crime Branch.

High-level directive from top brass
The crackdown was reportedly initiated under instructions from the Home Minister (HM), Commissioner of Police (CP), and the Director General of Police (DGP). “HM, CP and DGP had directed us that illegal immigrants must be held,” added Singhal.

He also noted that since April 2024, the Crime Branch had already registered two FIRs and successfully deported 77 individuals from a total of 127 detained illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in earlier operations.