The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed a comprehensive investigation into cases involving illegal Bangladeshi nationals residing in India. In a recent meeting, the MHA instructed all states and Union Territories (UTs) to treat these cases as “umbrella investigations” and focus on identifying individuals who have facilitated the illegal immigrants in obtaining fake documents, including Aadhaar and other Indian citizenship-related documents.
Officials revealed that some of these fraudulent documents were created for the purpose of traveling to European or Middle Eastern countries, with the immigrants not staying long in India. Authorities have been tasked with identifying those who helped generate these documents, and those individuals will also face charges in the investigations.
The probe will also include a thorough review of how these documents were obtained, with all suspicious Aadhaar cards sent for re-verification, including checks on the documents used for Aadhaar generation. The MHA has instructed Aadhaar officials to notify the police if they discover any attempts to modify or generate Aadhaar cards with questionable documentation.
In cases where illegal Bangladeshi nationals are confirmed, they will be detained, and the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) will ensure their return according to established protocols.
This action follows a recent operation by Delhi Police, which led to the arrest of over 20 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in the national capital. According to MHA data, 2,601 Bangladeshi nationals were apprehended at the Indo-Bangladesh border between January 2024 and January 2025.
To strengthen border security, the government has ramped up surveillance along the Indo-Bangladesh border with advanced equipment, including Hand Held Thermal Imagers (HHTI), Night Vision Devices (NVD), UAVs, and an Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS) pilot in Dhubri, Assam. The Border Security Force (BSF) also maintains regular cooperation with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) under a Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) signed in 2011.
