‘Card toh yahi rahega’: Delhi Police Intensifies Search for Illegal Bangladeshi Immigrants in the Capital
Amid pressure from the L-G Secretariat's directive, Delhi police ramp up efforts to identify and deport illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, with intense checks across jhuggi clusters in the city.
The Delhi Police are on high alert as they carry out extensive checks across the city in a bid to identify illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. The move follows a directive from the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat in December, calling for action against illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.
At Kalindi Kunj police station, officers are scrambling to form a team for a critical operation. A sub-inspector quickly assembles a six-member team, including constables and an assistant sub-inspector, to head to a suspected cluster of illegal immigrants. The target is Kanchan Kunj, a jhuggi area just two kilometers from the police station.
This intensified effort stems from the L-G Secretariat’s order issued on December 10, 2024, to the Delhi Chief Secretary and Police Commissioner, instructing them to take decisive action against Bangladeshi nationals living illegally in the city. As part of this special drive, over 58 people have been deported, with eight arrests made so far, according to Delhi Police.
The Search at Kanchan Kunj
Kanchan Kunj, a makeshift settlement of tin-roofed huts, is accessed by a narrow road littered with garbage. The area is home to rag-pickers, with some residents warming themselves by small bonfires or lingering around makeshift shops. When the police team arrives, the atmosphere changes quickly, and the residents begin gathering their documents at the officers’ command. “Get your Aadhaar cards, everyone. Any other documents you have, bring those too,” the sub-inspector orders.
Among the residents, Mohammad Alamin Aslam, a 19-year-old from Assam, nervously produces his Aadhaar card, explaining he is in Delhi to find work. Unlike Aslam, Rukhsana Begum, a 22-year-old mother from Assam, has grown accustomed to the repeated document checks, having lived in Kanchan Kunj for six years. “Every time the police come, I show my Aadhaar card. This is the third time today,” she sighs.
Kallu Khan, a rag-picker from Uttar Pradesh, has experienced similar visits. Although he is not from Assam or West Bengal, he notes the police mainly target "Bangla log" (Bangladeshi nationals). Despite this, he adds, "They never note my name down.”
As the team moves through the cluster, the process becomes routine. Residents line up to present their Aadhaar cards, but the police remain suspicious of some. “It’s hard to identify who is truly an illegal immigrant. Most have proper documents,” says one officer, relying on dialect and other behavioral clues to flag potential suspects.
Challenges in Identifying Immigrants
Despite thorough checks, the police face challenges in distinguishing illegal immigrants, especially since many present valid documents. Officers rely on regional dialects and behavioral traits associated with previously detained immigrants to help trace their origins.
Rukhsana Begum, exhausted by the constant document checks, comments, “The card is the same every time. Why do they keep asking us to show it?” She offers the officers a meal of fish curry and rice, but they politely decline, leaving the area after completing their rounds.
Delhi Police say that as of now, 25 to 30 individuals in Southeast Delhi are suspected of being illegal immigrants, with ongoing efforts to identify agents who facilitate such immigration. Additional drives are underway in various parts of the city, including Madanpur Khadar, Jamia Nagar, Rangpuri, and Arjan Garh.
The Arrests and Investigation
In January, Delhi Police arrested four people suspected of running a syndicate that facilitated illegal immigration. Two of the arrested individuals, Ashish Mehra and Aminur Ishlam, are believed to have forged documents and arranged transportation for illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Their operations are thought to involve routes from Meghalaya to Assam and onward to Delhi.
According to police, the arrested Bangladeshi couple, who had been smuggled into India via the Meghalaya border, were aided by the syndicate in obtaining fake identification documents. Police believe these agents provide critical information that helps track and verify the identities of illegal immigrants.
Once the individuals' identities are questioned and found to be fraudulent, they are deported, with some sent to detention centers before being transported back to Bangladesh.
Widespread Checks Across Delhi
In addition to the Southeast district, checks have been carried out in Dwarka, Outer Delhi, and other areas, where hundreds of suspected illegal immigrants have been identified. Police are also cooperating with authorities in Assam and West Bengal to verify the origins of individuals and their documents.
Despite the challenges, Delhi Police remain committed to continuing the drive. “We are doing our job as per the current directives,” says a senior police officer. “This operation will continue for some time, given the political importance and focus on illegal immigration at this moment.”
While residents in Delhi’s jhuggi clusters may grow weary of repeated checks, the police maintain that this effort is crucial to maintaining law and order in the capital.