Delhi Police carried out search operations across slum areas in the national capital on Wednesday as part of an ongoing investigation into the infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals. The operations were conducted at night to facilitate easier verification of individuals, as family members are typically present at home after work hours.
Speaking to ANI, West Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Vichitra Veer explained the rationale behind the timing of the operation:
“The purpose of conducting the campaign at night is that people are out working during the day. At night, all the family members are typically at home, which makes the verification process easier,” said DCP Veer.
The police have initiated the deportation process for 10 Bangladeshi nationals from West Delhi, with other districts also carrying out similar actions.
The search operation comes amid growing criticism from the BJP, which has accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi of providing voter ID cards and Aadhaar cards to Rohingya and Bangladeshi immigrants in exchange for votes.
On Monday, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena expressed concerns about the increasing involvement of illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya immigrants in criminal activities. His comments followed a recent incident in Mumbai, where a Bangladeshi national was arrested in connection with a break-in and assault on actor Saif Ali Khan.
In response, Saxena directed the Delhi Police Commissioner to launch a special operation to identify and apprehend illegal immigrants.
“The Lieutenant Governor has directed that a special campaign be launched to identify such infiltrators on a mission mode,” a statement from the Delhi LG Secretariat read. “An outreach programme may be launched through print and social media to generate public awareness on the importance of verifying employees, domestic help, and workers, including construction labor, for their own security.”
This search operation is part of a broader initiative to address illegal immigration. In December 2024, Delhi LG VK Saxena directed the Delhi Chief Secretary and Police Commissioner to initiate a special drive over the following two months to identify and take action against illegal Bangladeshi immigrants residing in Delhi.
As the search operations continue, authorities are working to identify and deport illegal immigrants while raising public awareness about the importance of employee and worker verification for security purposes.
