The Delhi police have started a search operation for illegal Bangladeshi nationals in South Delhi’s Bengali basti in Vasant Kunj. Many residents, especially Bengali-speaking locals, expressed worries about the method of approach used by the authorities during this operation.
The matter of illegal Bangladeshi immigration has been a divisive issue in India for many years. Due to Delhi’s growing migrant population, the issue has gained traction. Residents of slums in Delhi, who struggle to survive, are often falsely accused of being illegal immigrants.
According to them, the police are targeting individuals despite their proof of being an Indian citizen. So far, Police have deported at least eight individuals after authenticating their nationality.
The Station House Officer (SHO) of Vasant Kunj police station, Arvind Pratap Singh stated that at least 400 families were verified by a door-to-door verification drive and the process is ongoing.
“A special team has been sent to West Bengal to verify the suspected individuals,” Arvind said.
Locals have expressed a degree of uncertainty about this operation as oftentimes they believe police wrongly label them as Bangladeshis especially if they are from Bengali-speaking backgrounds.
Abul Hussain, a resident from Assam who has lived in Delhi since 2008 said, “They pick up people by calling them Bangladeshis, but even after verification, they are considered as suspects.”
Hussain expresses concerns that if a person is interrogated by the police others become reluctant to hire them. He feels that the situation seems to him as a form of harassment.
Reportedly, over 10,000 Bengali-speaking individuals have been living in Delhi for decades now. They are from various places like Cooch Behar Assam and various other parts of Bengal. They generally work in unskilled jobs like cleaning and scrap dealing to provide for their families.
Some have alleged that the ongoing operation is planned to target the Bengali-speaking community and that it’s a “politically driven operation.” They pointed out that the police aim to trigger emotions about illegal immigration.
Muslims are the most affected individuals during such operations, noted several locals showing distress and disappointment over being called Bangladeshi despite no proof.
