92 Bangladeshi nationals held in Delhi for illegal stay; 142 detained since December

A special operation launched by the Delhi Police in the city’s southwest district has resulted in the detention of 92 Bangladeshi nationals for illegally residing in India. The arrests, made during two separate raids, are part of an ongoing crackdown on undocumented foreign nationals.

With these latest detentions, the number of Bangladeshi nationals apprehended in the district since December 26, 2024, has risen to 142, according to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest) Surendra Choudhary.

The 10-day operation, carried out in multiple localities under the southwest district’s jurisdiction, focused on identifying unauthorised residents. Police teams conducted door-to-door verifications in areas flagged as vulnerable, acting on intelligence inputs and assistance from local informers.

“In the course of the drive, 88 Bangladeshi nationals were detained from areas such as Sarojini Nagar, Kishangarh, Safdarjung Enclave, Vasant Kunj (North and South), Kapashera, Palam village, Delhi Cantonment, and Sagarpur,” said DCP Choudhary in an official statement.

During interrogation, none of the detainees could produce valid documents confirming Indian citizenship. Many were found with Bangladeshi identity papers. Upon verification, their illegal status was confirmed, and legal proceedings were initiated.

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Police said the individuals had entered India through unauthorised routes — some by crossing rivers along the India-Bangladesh border, others through gaps in the border fencing. Most had been living in Delhi for several years, earning a living through domestic work and daily-wage labour.

In a separate incident, a Bangladeshi family — comprising Mohd Asad Ali (44), his wife Nasima Begum (40), and their two children — was detained from the Delhi Cantonment area. The couple’s 18-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter were also living in the country without legal documentation.

“The family admitted they were natives of Farooq Bazar Ajwatari, Phulbari Kurigram in Bangladesh and had been residing illegally in Delhi for the past 12 years,” said the DCP. None of them were able to produce any official papers proving Indian citizenship.

Authorities have recorded the family’s statements and begun deportation proceedings through the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO).

The police have indicated that similar operations may continue in other districts in the coming months as part of a broader enforcement effort.

(With inputs from PTI)