New Delhi: The Delhi Police have uncovered a well-organised network of Bangladeshi immigrants who entered India unlawfully and settled in the national capital. Earlier last week Delhi Police nabbed several Bangladeshi immigrants to find that they had crossed into India via the Benapole and Hakimpur borders in West Bengal before travelling to Delhi by train. Many chose to reside in the South and South-East districts of Delhi, particularly in areas with a significant Bengali-speaking population, such as CR Park, to blend in more easily.
According to officials, some of the detained immigrants were found in possession of forged Indian documents, including Aadhar and PAN cards, while others had no identification papers. Authorities are ramping up efforts to track down and dismantle the networks responsible for enabling their illegal entry and continued stay in the country.
A police officer involved in the investigation highlighted the employment patterns of these immigrants, noting that the women among the detainees typically worked as housemaids in Bengali-dominated neighbourhoods like CR Park. The men were mostly engaged in informal jobs such as rag-picking, scrap dealing, or manual labour. “Since they speak fluent Bengali, they often claim to be from West Bengal, making it easier for them to evade suspicion,” the official explained.
This operation led to the detention of 24 Bangladeshi nationals, including two minors. The detainees, including Mohd. Alamgir, Salaam Khan, Mohd. Jewel Islam, Mohd. Latif Khan, Mohd. Nadeem Sheikh, and Mohd. Mizanur Rehman, had been residing in Delhi for extended periods, with some having lived in India for over 20 years. Several individuals had fraudulently obtained Indian identity documents and were engaged in various informal occupations, ranging from rag-picking and scrap dealing to running small businesses. Among those detained were Hamida (75), Nabison (65), Rahima (55), Md. Sohail (31), Lali Khatun (24), and Aslam (25). These individuals had similarly crossed into India through the Benapole and Hakimpur borders in West Bengal and were found living in the capital without any legal documents or residency permits. As part of the legal proceedings, eight of these individuals were presented before the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) for deportation, while three more were apprehended on March 11, 2025, and are currently undergoing deportation formalities.
Further investigation revealed that these people crossed the border illegally with the assistance of human traffickers. Upon reaching Delhi via train, they established local contacts who helped them find jobs and accommodations. Some of these individuals had even married Indian citizens, making it more challenging to detect their illegal status.
Following these revelations
Since the launch of this district-wide crackdown on 19 November 2024, authorities have successfully identified and deported 28 illegal Bangladeshi illegals.
Authorities are pursuing a parallel investigation to identify and take legal action against those who have been instrumental in fabricating these fraudulent documents and providing shelter to unauthorized foreign nationals.
To strengthen this initiative, the Delhi Police have issued an appeal to the public, particularly Residents’ Welfare Associations (RWAs) and Market Welfare Associations (MWAs), urging them to remain vigilant and report any suspicious individuals or activities to local law enforcement. Officials have also warned that failure to report illegal immigrants or providing them with shelter could result in legal action against those involved.