Maharashtra, Delhi crackdown on 'illegal' Bangladeshis in India
The order came on 18 December, and also requires schools to verify students more rigorously during admission
Authorities in Maharashtra and Delhi have intensified actions targeting "illegal" Bangladeshi migrants, with measures including deportation, document verification, and school-level checks.
In Delhi, police identified 175 individuals as suspected illegal Bangladeshi immigrants during a 12-hour verification drive in the outer Delhi area, officials said today (22 December), according to The Hindu.
The drive, which began at 6pm yesterday (21 December), is part of heightened efforts to identify and detain those residing without valid documentation.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis yesterday (21 December) said that efforts are underway to deport Bangladeshi migrants identified as staying illegally in Mumbai and other parts of the state, Hindustan Times reports.
"The state government is firm on action against Bangladeshi immigrants staying illegally in Mumbai. We have already started action against them and they will be deported," Fadnavis said, speaking after the winter session of the state legislature.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly discussed broader regulatory measures, including government oversight of religious places. Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar proposed bringing all worship sites, not just Hindu temples, under state regulation. Responding to this, Fadnavis noted that the proposal would require legal examination.
Educational and administrative measures in Delhi
Following directives from Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, Delhi Police launched a citywide operation on 18 December to address illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, The Indian Express reports.
The drive targeted areas such as Kalindi Kunj, Uttam Nagar, Shaheen Bagh, and Jamia Nagar, with officers verifying residents' documents in slums and unauthorised colonies.
"Some individuals without proper documents have been brought to police stations for questioning. If found to be illegal immigrants, they will be deported," an officer said. The initiative also involves cross-verifying documents issued in neighbouring states under the Foreigners Act.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has instructed schools to identify children of illegal Bangladeshi migrants and refrain from issuing birth certificates to these individuals, according to The Times of India.
During a virtual meeting on 12 December, officials emphasised preventive actions, including verification drives within schools and birth registration processes.
BP Bhardwaj, deputy commissioner of the MCD, stated that the education and public health departments are responsible for implementing these measures. Schools are required to submit reports by 31 December, while the MCD will provide weekly updates to higher authorities.
This concerted effort across multiple agencies highlights ongoing measures to address concerns regarding illegal migration and its socio-economic implications.
