Ahmedabad, June 3 (IANS) The Ahmedabad Crime Branch has uncovered evidence that several suspected illegal Bangladeshi immigrants detained in a citywide operation had obtained Aadhaar cards through fraudulent means, initiating a wider investigation into document forgery networks and the methods used to facilitate their stay in India.
Providing an update on the ongoing crackdown on Wednesday, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime), Sharad Singhal, said 166 people had so far been confirmed as Bangladeshi nationals out of more than 300 individuals rounded up during ‘Operation Delta Hunt’, a statewide exercise being carried out across Gujarat.
“Quite a few among the 166 had obtained Indian Aadhaar cards illegally. We are investigating through whom these documents were made,” Singhal said, adding that police were also examining how the individuals entered India, the work they were engaged in, and the channels through which they sent money.
The operation in Ahmedabad was conducted under the supervision of city Police Commissioner G.S. Malik and involved more than 30 teams drawn from the Crime Branch, Cyber Crime Branch, Special Operations Group and local police stations.
Raids and verification drives were carried out in Naroda, Danilimda, Vatva, Vatva GIDC, Juhapura and other areas.
Singhal said Intelligence gathered through both human sources and technical surveillance suggested that some of those detained may have been linked to earlier enforcement actions around Chandola Lake.
“When we carried out the Chandola operation last year, several people fled. Information suggested that some of them later began residing in and around Ahmedabad,” he said.
Police rounded up more than 300 men, women and children during the exercise.
Of these, 166 have so far been established as Bangladeshi nationals who allegedly entered India illegally and were residing in Ahmedabad without valid authorisation. Questioning of more than 150 others is continuing.
The latest operation follows a major drive conducted last year in Ahmedabad, after which authorities deported 465 Bangladeshi nationals.
Singhal said police would pursue further legal action once verification procedures are completed.
“Like last year, when 465 illegal Bangladeshi nationals were deported under the guidance of the Police Commissioner and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, we believe these individuals will also be deported swiftly after due process,” he said.
Investigators are also probing how forged Indian identity documents were allegedly obtained, with the enquiry expected to extend beyond illegal immigration to those suspected of enabling document fraud networks operating within the state.
–IANS
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