On Wednesday, police in Ahmedabad announced the identification of at least 166 individuals from Bangladesh who are believed to be living in the city illegally. This operation represents the largest enforcement action against undocumented immigrants in the region since the previous year.
The 166 individuals, for whom deportation processes have now begun, were part of a larger group of approximately 300 people apprehended during Operation Delta, which took place overnight on June 2-3 throughout Gujarat. Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi is expected to provide updated figures for the state later today.
In 2025, 465 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants were expelled from Ahmedabad, highlighting ongoing efforts to address this issue.
On Wednesday, the detained individuals were observed at a football ground located in Gaekwad Haveli, the headquarters of the Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) in Ahmedabad. The operation involved personnel from various units, including the Crime Branch, Economic Offences Wing, Cybercrime division, and Special Operations Group, along with ten local police teams.
Commissioner of Police G. S. Malik stated, “Following directives from the Deputy Chief Minister, multiple police teams were deployed across the city. Utilizing both human intelligence and technical resources, we were able to ascertain the locations where these individuals were residing. We detained around 300 individuals and confirmed that 166 of them are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, comprising 95 women, 30 children, and 41 men. We are in the process of verifying the status of the remaining individuals.”
Malik added, “The women were primarily engaged in spa services and prostitution, while the men found work as laborers. Our primary focus is on identifying illegal immigrants, with further investigations to follow. Most of these individuals have been residing in the city for a duration ranging from eight months to two years.”
Under the oversight of Joint Commissioner of Police Sharad Singhal, Operation Delta targeted various localities in Ahmedabad. Singhal reported, “We apprehended over 300 individuals, confirming the illegal status of 166 from Bangladesh. Many were detained in areas such as Danilimda, Narol, Naroda, Sola, Juhapura, Sarkhej, Odhav, and Pirana. In accordance with Government of India protocols, we will upload their information to the designated portal and initiate the deportation process.”
Regarding the presence of counterfeit Indian identity documents, JCP Singhal noted, “We discovered several Aadhaar cards; however, upon verification, many were found to be fraudulent. Some individuals also possessed documents from West Bengal. We are currently investigating the involvement of traffickers in this matter.”
