Delhi Police Detains 66 Undocumented Bangladeshi Immigrants in Major Operation
Significant Arrests in Delhi
In a recent operation, the Delhi Police apprehended 66 undocumented Bangladeshi immigrants residing in the Wazirpur Jhuggi Jhopdi Colony and New Subzi Mandi areas of the city, according to a police officer's statement on Monday.
The group includes 20 men, 16 women, and 30 children, who were taken into custody during a targeted initiative aimed at identifying undocumented foreign nationals in informal settlements, as reported by a local news outlet.
Authorities indicated that these individuals had recently moved to northwestern Delhi from the Nuh district of Haryana, where they had been employed in brick kilns.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest) Bhisham Singh noted that these families relocated to Delhi in response to increased police actions against illegal immigrants and extensive media coverage of such operations.
Singh mentioned that the families chose to settle in densely populated informal areas to evade detection.
This arrest is part of a broader initiative to identify undocumented foreign nationals in the capital, the officer added.
On December 10, the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi had mandated a special operation targeting alleged undocumented immigrants from Bangladesh.
Following this directive, police have detained numerous individuals they assert are undocumented Bangladeshi immigrants.
Earlier, on May 30, the police arrested four Bangladeshi nationals in North Delhi’s Narela for lacking valid documentation. The day before, five Bangladeshi nationals, including three minors, were taken into custody in Anand Vihar, East Delhi.
On May 16, the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police reported the arrest of nine undocumented Bangladeshi nationals, including five children, from Auchungi village in the northwestern region of the city.
Additionally, on May 3, authorities dismantled a network facilitating the illegal entry of Bangladeshi nationals into India, resulting in the arrest of 47 undocumented individuals and five Indian nationals.
India's Stance on Undocumented Immigrants
The recent arrests occur amid India's ongoing efforts to 'push back' alleged undocumented immigrants to Bangladesh.
On Monday, Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that his government has 'pushed back' 303 'foreigners' and intends to continue this practice under the 1950 Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act.
He stated, 'Another 35 are in our custody and will be sent back once the floodwaters recede,' addressing the state Assembly. 'The Supreme Court has affirmed that the illegal expulsion act is valid, allowing the government to expel foreigners without judicial intervention.'
During discussions regarding challenges to Section 6A of the 1955 Citizenship Act, the Supreme Court indicated that the Assam government is not legally obligated to always seek judicial approval to identify foreigners, as Sarma informed reporters on Saturday.
In October, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of Section 6A of the 1955 Citizenship Act, which was introduced as a special provision during the signing of the Assam Accord in 1985. This section permits foreigners who entered Assam between January 1, 1966, and March 25, 1971, to apply for Indian citizenship.
Indigenous groups in Assam have raised concerns that this provision has facilitated the infiltration of migrants from Bangladesh.
Sarma also mentioned that two to four individuals, who had received stays from the Supreme Court and High Court against their deportations, were also 'pushed back.'
He added, 'Through diplomatic channels, we have also facilitated their return.'