The Gujarat Police have launched a large-scale crackdown against Bangladeshi nationals allegedly residing illegally in the state, detaining more than 400 people under a coordinated operation called “Operation Delta Hunt”.
Addressing a press conference in Gandhinagar on Wednesday, Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi said the operation was launched against people considered a threat to national security and warned that strict action would be taken against anyone helping undocumented migrants.
“Every infiltrator who compromises the security of Gujarat will be identified, legal action will be taken, and they will be deported to Bangladesh,” Sanghavi said.
According to officials, the police detained 424 suspected illegal Bangladeshi migrants within 24 hours, while background verification and questioning of thousands of others are currently underway. Earlier estimates had put the number of arrests at over 360.
Over 6,200 Suspected Individuals Under Investigation
The Gujarat government said investigators have prepared a database of more than 6,200 suspected individuals as part of the operation. The list was reportedly compiled by analysing Indian mobile numbers that had communicated with Bangladeshi numbers.
Gujarat Director General of Police Dr K. L. N. Rao said the police are using a mix of technology, surveillance tools and human intelligence to trace illegal networks.
“In total, investigations are being conducted into the backgrounds of over 6,200 individuals,” Sanghavi said, adding that the number of people identified could rise as investigations continue.
Officials said the operation was carried out after more than 72 hours of continuous planning and fieldwork by police units across Gujarat.
Police Expand Probe Into Local Networks
Authorities said the investigation is no longer limited to suspected migrants and has now widened to include local people who may have helped them secure housing, jobs or forged identity documents.
Sanghavi said strict legal action would be taken against those who violated the law by providing shelter, employment or assistance without proper verification.
“Action will also be taken against those who helped illegal immigrants obtain forged documents or stay in the state unlawfully,” he said.
Police alleged that some migrants managed to obtain local identity cards, including Aadhaar cards, using basic paperwork sourced from villages in West Bengal.
“By using new technologies and software, we have successfully identified such individuals,” Sanghavi said.
Industrial Cities Among Main Focus Areas
According to officials, many of the detained individuals were working in manual labour sectors in industrial hubs such as Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot, Vadodara and Bharuch.
Police teams also conducted operations in remote areas. Officials said five suspicious individuals were detained from Dang district during the drive.
Security checks were intensified at railway stations, bus terminals, highways and district borders to stop suspects from fleeing. Police said at least 18 people attempting to escape during the operation were intercepted and detained.
Door-to-Door Verification Planned
The Gujarat government said it plans to continue village-level and door-to-door verification drives to identify more undocumented migrants.
Sanghavi also stressed the need for stronger border fencing along the India-Bangladesh border, especially in West Bengal, to curb illegal migration and improve national security.
The operation comes amid increasing focus by several state governments on undocumented migration and document verification, with Gujarat Police saying further action and deportation procedures will continue in the coming days.
