Delhi Police Begins Crackdown on Illegal Bangladeshi Immigrants

The Delhi Police has started a special drive to take action against ‘illegal Bangladeshi immigrants’ in the city. This action began after Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor (L-G), V.K. Saxena, instructed the Police Commissioner to act strictly against such immigrants residing in the capital.

The drive took place in areas like Kalindi Kunj, Uttam Nagar, Shaheen Bagh, and Jamia Nagar. These places have many slums, footpaths, and unauthorized colonies, where officers suspected that illegal immigrants might be living. Police officers visited these areas to check the documents of people living there.

During the operation, people without proper documents were taken to the police station for questioning. If it is confirmed that they are staying illegally in India, they will be deported to their home country. The police explained that they are carefully cross-verifying documents, especially those from states near Bangladesh, like Assam, to ensure their authenticity. Anyone found living illegally will be booked under the Foreigners Act and deported.

The police stated that this is not a new activity but part of their regular checks. In the past, they have deported illegal immigrants from other countries as well, including Nigeria and Bangladesh.

The drive also followed a meeting between the L-G and a group of ulemas (Muslim religious leaders) and community representatives from Hazrat Nizamuddin. These leaders expressed concerns about the treatment of minority communities in Bangladesh and requested strict action against infiltrators living in Delhi.

In addition to directing the police, the L-G also asked the chief secretary to monitor the actions taken against illegal immigrants. The chief secretary has been instructed to submit weekly progress reports to ensure that the matter is addressed promptly.

Through this drive, the authorities aim to identify and deport all illegal immigrants living in Delhi.

Along with this, several states too in India are running drives to identify and deport illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, similar to this action taken by the Delhi Police.

In Karnataka, particularly Bengaluru, authorities are targeting areas where Bangladeshi immigrants are suspected to work, such as slums and labor camps. Police verify documents and take strict action under the Foreigners Act against those found without valid papers. The state has deported over 150 individuals linked to illegal activities, including narcotics trafficking. However, the drive has faced criticism, with allegations of harassment and misidentification of Indian citizens, especially Bengali-speaking Muslims, who have been mistaken for illegal immigrants.

And, in Assam, addressing illegal immigration has been a long-standing issue. As a border state with Bangladesh, Assam uses Foreigners Tribunals to determine the status of suspected illegal immigrants. Those confirmed as undocumented immigrants are sent to detention centers before deportation. The state conducts regular document verification drives and works closely with the central government to manage the issue.

While these drives aim to address concerns over security and unauthorized residency, they have also raised concerns about human rights violations and the potential for misidentification, especially among vulnerable communities.