Delhi Police detains 24 Bangladeshi nationals for illegal stay

In a major crackdown on illegal immigration, Delhi Police has detained 24 Bangladeshi nationals, including two minors, from different parts of south and southeast Delhi, an official confirmed on Wednesday.

According to the police, 13 Bangladeshi immigrants were detained in south Delhi, while 11, including two minors, were apprehended in southeast Delhi. The week-long operation began on March 6.

The action follows a recent review meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Delhi’s law and order situation, where he directed senior police officials to take swift legal measures against illegal immigrants.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Southern Range) S K Jain stated that the detainees were found in possession of Bangladeshi national ID cards. After illegally entering India, they allegedly used local contacts to procure fraudulent Indian identity documents.

“The forged documents are being sent to the respective authorities for cancellation,” Jain said, adding that action is also being taken against those who facilitated the procurement of these documents. The detainees are now being processed for deportation through the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO).

Police investigations revealed that the immigrants entered India through the Benapole and Hakimpur borders in West Bengal before travelling to Delhi by train. Authorities are now intensifying efforts to identify and dismantle the networks enabling their illegal entry and stay.

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Most of the detained women were employed as housemaids in Bengali-dominated localities like CR Park, while the men worked in the unorganised sector. “Since they were fluent in Bengali, they often posed as migrants from West Bengal to evade suspicion,” Jain added.

(With inputs from PTI)