Six suspected illegal Bangladeshi migrants, who had disguised themselves as transgender women to evade detection, were arrested in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri area, Delhi police said on Friday.
According to officials, the individuals had undergone minor surgical procedures and hormonal treatments to alter their appearance and blend into the local transgender community.
During the operation, police discovered that the migrants were using a banned mobile application to communicate with their families in Bangladesh.
The arrests were made on Thursday as part of a 10-day surveillance drive targeting illegal Bangladeshi migrants in specific areas.
“Acting on a tip-off, a team from the Foreigners Cell was deployed. We received information that some illegal Bangladeshi nationals were disguising themselves as transgender individuals and engaging in begging at traffic signals to avoid suspicion,” a police officer said.
The suspects were apprehended near Jahangirpuri Metro Station. They have been identified as Md Zakria Moina Khan (24), Suhana Khan (21), Akhi Sarkar (22), Md Baoijed Khan (24), Md Rana alias Lobely (26), and Johny Hussain (20). Police said they are natives of various districts in Bangladesh, including Barguna, Gajipur, Madaripur, Sirajganj, Pabna, and Naogoan.
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During questioning, the migrants admitted to entering India illegally with the help of traffickers. They travelled to Delhi by train and underwent medical procedures to change their appearance.
Police recovered six mobile phones from them, all containing banned applications used for communication with their families abroad.
The arrested individuals have been handed over to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in R K Puram for deportation proceedings. Further investigations are ongoing, police added.
(With inputs from PTI)
