At the minimum 890 individuals were detained in Ahmedabad, while 134 get detained in Surat
Over 1,000 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, including women and children, were apprehended during combing operations in Ahmedabad and Surat, with efforts for their deportation already in progress, stated Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi on Saturday.
At least 890 individuals were detained in Ahmedabad and 134 in Surat, marking the largest operation of its kind conducted by the Gujarat police to date.
Mr. Sanghavi cautioned illegal immigrants residing in Gujarat to voluntarily surrender to the police, or they would face arrest and deportation. He also warned of legal repercussions for those providing shelter to illegal immigrants.
‘A significant achievement has been realized in apprehending illegal Bangladeshis. The Ahmedabad police captured 890 illegal immigrants, while the Surat police detained 134. This operation represents the most extensive effort by the Gujarat Police against illegal residents in the state,’ Mr. Sanghavi informed reporters in Surat after a video-conference meeting with senior police officials.
He noted that the detainees had utilized counterfeit documents acquired from West Bengal to reside in various regions of India before arriving in Gujarat. The minister remarked, ‘Many of these individuals are linked to drug trafficking, human smuggling, and, as evidenced by the recent arrests of two out of four Bangladeshis, have connections to Al Qaeda sleeper cells.
‘An investigation will be initiated into the backgrounds and activities of these Bangladeshis in Gujarat.’ He assured that arrangements were being made to expedite their deportation process.
‘We will also scrutinize the counterfeit documents they used to travel across the country and into Gujarat, and appropriate action will be taken against those responsible for creating these fraudulent documents,’ he added.
Mr. Sanghavi instructed the police to take decisive action against illegal immigrants throughout Gujarat, and a clear directive has been issued for Pakistani nationals to vacate Gujarat in accordance with the decisions made during the Cabinet Committee meeting.
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