The Ahmedabad Crime Branch revealed that numerous suspected illegal Bangladeshi immigrants detained in a citywide operation had fraudulently obtained Aadhaar cards. This discovery has prompted a broader investigation into document forgery networks and the methods used to support their presence in India. Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sharad Singhal disclosed that out of over 300 individuals apprehended during ‘Operation Delta Hunt’, 166 have been confirmed as Bangladeshi nationals.
Singhal mentioned that a significant number among the 166 individuals had acquired Indian Aadhaar cards through illicit means. Authorities are now delving into the origins of these falsified documents. The investigation also encompasses the immigrants’ entry into India, their occupations, and the financial channels they utilized. The operation in Ahmedabad, overseen by Police Commissioner G.S. Malik, involved over 30 teams from various law enforcement units.
Raids and verification drives were conducted in several areas, including Naroda, Danilimda, Vatva, Vatva GIDC, and Juhapura. Intelligence gathered from human sources and technical surveillance indicates potential links of the detainees to past enforcement actions around Chandola Lake. Singhal highlighted that last year’s operation in Chandola led to the escape of several individuals who later resided in Ahmedabad. More than 300 individuals, including men, women, and children, were detained during the recent exercise.
Of these detainees, 166 have been identified as Bangladeshi nationals who allegedly entered India unlawfully and were residing in Ahmedabad without proper authorization. While questioning of over 150 others is ongoing, authorities are following up on legal procedures. This recent operation follows a deportation drive last year in Ahmedabad, where 465 Bangladeshi nationals were repatriated. Singhal emphasized that legal actions will be pursued once verification processes are finalized.
Investigators are also looking into the acquisition of forged Indian identity documents, with a focus on networks involved in document fraud within the state. The authorities aim to swiftly deport these individuals, similar to the actions taken last year under the guidance of the Police Commissioner and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi.
