Authorities in India have detained 1,024 Bangladeshi migrants in a major crackdown across Gujarat, aimed at expelling those residing illegally, the state government announced on Saturday (April 26).

The administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi frequently refers to undocumented Bangladeshi immigrants as "Muslim infiltrators," alleging that they pose a threat to national security.

Human rights organizations argue that such anti-immigrant rhetoric is designed to strengthen the ruling party’s support among the country’s Hindu majority.

According to an official statement, "Police forces jointly apprehended 1,024 illegal Bangladeshi nationals during an overnight operation."

It further stated that Gujarat’s Home Minister, Harsh Sanghavi, had earlier issued a two-day ultimatum for undocumented Bangladeshis in the state to surrender voluntarily.

Police have also launched an investigation into a West Bengal-based network suspected of manufacturing fake identity documents.

The Gujarat government confirmed that, following due legal procedures, the detained migrants would be deported to Bangladesh.

Preliminary investigations suggest that many of those detained were involved in criminal activities such as drug trafficking, human smuggling, and other illegal operations.

Weak border controls over the years have facilitated the migration of millions of Bangladeshis into India.

Meanwhile, diplomatic ties between India and Bangladesh have sharply deteriorated following a political upheaval in Dhaka last August that ousted Sheikh Hasina, a longstanding ally of New Delhi.

Hasina, who has since sought refuge in India, has refused to return to Bangladesh to face charges including mass murder, despite repeated extradition requests from Dhaka.

Source: Agencies 

BDST: 1919 HRS, APR 26, 2025
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