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Detained Bangladeshi migrants are pictured at a crime branch office following an overnight operation by the state police in Ahmedabad on Saturday. Indian police have detained 1,024 Bangladeshi migrants in a sweeping crackdown in the western state of Gujarat aimed at identifying and deporting illegal residents. — AFP
Amid a manhunt in India following the terror attack in Kashmir, Gujarat police arrested over a thousand 'Bangladeshi' nationals across the state in a single night, a report said Saturday.
Ahmedabad police arrested 890 "illegal Bangladeshis" while Surat police apprehended 134, reports the Times of India, a leading Indian daily.
State authorities claimed that among those detained, four individuals had " links to criminal activities". Gujarat Director-General of Police Vikas Sahay said the suspects are currently being interrogated at the Joint Interrogation Centre, according to the ToI report.
"The crackdown aimed to curb illegal infiltration that could pose security risks. Minister of State for Home Affairs Harsh Sanghavi, during a video conference with police officials from various districts, directed them to intensify operations and monitor illegal residents closely," the report added.
He also warned 'illegal' Bangladeshi nationals to voluntarily surrender at local police stations within two days or face strict action.
Authorities have been instructed to also take action against those sheltering unauthorized immigrants.
"Police revealed that many of those arrested had been living in Gujarat and other states using fake documents, allegedly procured from Bengal.
Investigations into the fake document networks are currently underway."
The DGP added that after completing legal formalities, all illegal residents will be deported to Bangladesh.
The ongoing probe is also focusing on exposing any terror links, particularly related to the two individuals suspected of working for Al-Qaeda.
"Gujarat police said that similar operations will continue to safeguard state security," said the report.
India has blamed Pakistan for the attack and taken diplomatic actions that are being retaliated by the latter.
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