Gujarat Police have detained over 200 “Bangladeshi nationals” who were allegedly living “illegally” across various districts of the state. The arrests have triggered a deportation process, with legal proceedings now in motion.
Gujarat’s top police officer, Director General of Police (DGP) Vikas Sahay, confirmed the operation on social media platform X. “In the last 100 hours, more than 200 illegal Bangladeshis have been caught by Gujarat Police. Further legal action for deportation is under progress,” he wrote.
Of the total detained, 44 were picked up by the Bharuch Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG) from Bharuch city, Ankleshwar city, and the Ankleshwar GIDC area — known hubs for undocumented labor.
According to police sources, many of the migrants had settled in semi-urban and industrial areas, working in sectors like construction, agriculture, domestic work, and small-scale factories. These jobs often pay poorly and rarely require legal paperwork.
“These areas have become magnets for undocumented labor because there’s work available, and identity checks are weak,” said a senior officer involved in the operation.
The police said that they forged Indian identity documents such as Aadhaar cards, ration cards, and even passports. Gujarat’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and local units have unearthed a growing network of human traffickers and middlemen helping migrants cross into India via porous borders in West Bengal and Assam.
“Many of them come here out of desperation — no jobs, poor wages back home — and they fall into these trafficking networks,” said a source from the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU). “They’re promised work and shelter, but end up being exploited.”
The Gujarat government has now launched one of its most widespread enforcement actions, involving the Crime Branch, ATS, SOG, and AHTU. Employers in key districts have been asked to submit proof of identity for all migrant workers, as part of a new crackdown on undocumented hiring.
“We’re trying to address the root cause,” said another senior official. “These illegal networks will keep growing unless employers are held accountable too.”
Coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF) and central intelligence agencies is also underway to ensure that deportations are carried out and future infiltrations are monitored closely.
