362 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants identified in Gujarat; 166 in Ahmedabad alone, says state govt
6,200 people were probed, ‘Op Delta Hunt’ to continue, says Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi
Operation Delta in Ahmedabad has resulted in the identification of 166 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants among more than 300 detainees (Photo: Screengrab). The Gujarat government identified 362 “illegal” immigrants from Bangladesh living in the state, said Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi on Wednesday evening. The action came after raids were carried out across the state earlier in the day.
“A total of 6,200 people were under investigation, but police detained only those who were most suspicious. After verification, 362 individuals were confirmed to be illegal immigrants from Bangladesh (by Wednesday evening). Meanwhile, an investigation of more than 780 people is still underway, and [the raids] will continue through the night,” Sanghavi said at a press conference in Gandhinagar.
Earlier in the day, joint commissioner of police (Ahmedabad City) Sharad Singhal confirmed that they identified 166 illegal immigrants out of 300-odd suspects during the raids that were named ‘Operation Delta Hunt’. However, these numbers were likely to increase.
Sanghavi confirmed that most of these illegal immigrants from Bangladesh were found to be living in the districts of Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, and Bharuch.
Sanghavi also said that they had caught some alleged illegal immigrants attempting to flee during the state-wide raids in the early hours of June 3 (Wednesday). “Check posts were established at railway stations, bus stands and highways during the raids to catch those trying to flee. The police apprehended another 18 people who were trying to escape the raids,” he said.
The deputy CM went a step further and said that action would also be taken against those found to have given shelter to the illegal immigrants. “A special police team is now investigating the people who gave them (the immigrants) shelter and jobs. We had previously said that nobody is to employ or give residence to anyone without document verification. If someone does so, they will also be booked. Industries that may have employed them sans police verification will face strict action.”
On those who forged their identity documents, Sanghavi said, “In several cases, we learnt that people have Aadhaar cards and other documents made in villages of West Bengal some years previously.”
He thanked the Centre, the prime minister, and the Union home minister for taking serious action against illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.
465 deported from Ahmedabad in 2025
In Ahmedabad city, where deportation procedures for at least 166 individuals had already begun, the “Delta Hunt” raids mark the most significant action taken against illegal immigrants since last year.
In 2025, as many as 465 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants were deported from Ahmedabad city.
On Wednesday, the detained individuals were seen at the football ground of Gaekwad Haveli, which is the headquarters of the Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) in Ahmedabad. Teams from the Crime Branch, Economic Offences Wing, Cybercrime, Special Operations Group, and local police took part in the operation in the city.
City police commissioner G S Malik said: “Under the instructions of the deputy CM, several police teams were formed and deployed across the city… We rounded up 300 people and have confirmed 166 as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Among them, 95 are women, 41 are men and 30 are children.”
Malik further said, “While the women worked in spas and in prostitution, the men worked as labourers. The priority is to identify all illegal immigrants. Other investigation procedures will take place later on. Most of them had been living here for eight months to two years.”
Operation Delta was carried out in Ahmedabad under the supervision of JCP Sharad Singhal. He said the detained individuals were picked up from Danilimda, Narol, Naroda, Sola, Juhapura, Sarkhej, Odhav, and Pirana areas of the city. “Based on guidelines issued by the Government of India, we will upload their details on a portal and begin procedures to report them.”
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