Gurugram Police Detain Ten Bangladeshi Nationals for Deportation

Gurugram:

Gurugram police have confirmed the detention of ten Bangladeshi nationals living illegally in the city, and have initiated deportation procedures in line with Home Ministry directives. Authorities based their actions on document verifications conducted during a large-scale migrant identification drive.

Authorities say the verification operation, launched last week covered around 250 individuals detained across four holding centres in community halls at Badshahpur, Sector 10A, Sector 40, and Manesar. At the time of reporting, all except the ten identified as Bangladeshis had been released.

The ten detainees were found in possession of Indian identity documents such as Aadhaar and voter cards, but were discovered to hold birth or domicile certificates issued in districts of Bangladesh, confirming their foreign origin. Police say all are first‑generation infiltrators who entered India illegally. “Bangladeshi documents have been recovered from them. The process to deport them has begun,” confirmed Sandeep Kumar, Gurugram Police PRO.

Deputy Commissioner Ajay Kumar stated that the holding centres are equipped with basic amenities and remain operational under government guidelines issued in May. Though detainee numbers are rising, no further expansion of holding centres is planned. The facilities are part of a national directive to identify and deport undocumented Bangladeshi and Rohingya immigrants.

Police officials noted that release of detainees hinges on verification reports from their home districts in Assam and West Bengal. Twenty individuals from Assam’s Dhubri were freed after their citizenship was confirmed.

The operation has stirred widespread panic, especially among Bengali‑speaking migrant communities, many of whom fled the city fearing persecution. Reports indicate that hundreds have started leaving Gurugram, sometimes hiring buses at inflated rates, to avoid checks.

Several migrants and activists have criticised the process. Hafizur Sheikh, a cleaner from Nadia district, said he was detained despite having Aadhaar and voter ID. He claimed officials refused to accept digital copies and accused them of arbitrary treatment.

A local activist described some community centres as resembling detention camps, alleging poor conditions and lack of legal clarity during the verification process.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called for immediate verification of all detainees, and insisted many were Indian citizens wrongfully detained. The state police have launched a WhatsApp helpline (9147727666) to assist affected workers and their families.

Gurugram police maintain that the drive is not a crackdown on citizens but a routine enforcement of immigration policy. Officials emphasise that only suspected illegal migrants are detained and that those with valid documentation are released after verification. They are working in accordance with guidelines provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Police have also urged landlords to verify tenant documents before renting properties. The lack of response from West Bengal officials has delayed verifications in some cases.

The deportation of the ten confirmed Bangladeshi nationals will be coordinated through the Border Security Force (BSF), with transportation arranged by bus or train to the Bangladesh border. The move forms part of a nationwide effort to clamp down on undocumented migration.

As the documentation process continues, many migrant workers remain fearful. Rights activists are calling for transparent procedures, legal safeguards, and urgent verification to protect genuine citizens from wrongful detention.