Gandhinagar, June 5: Gujarat Police arrested 568 Bangladeshi nationals allegedly residing illegally in the state as part of the ongoing statewide crackdown known as ‘Operation Delta hunt’, with authorities indicating that search and verification drives are continuing across multiple districts.
According to the state government, the arrests were made during coordinated operations conducted across Gujarat under the supervision of Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi. The latest figures, recorded up to 8 A.M. on Friday, show that those detained include 172 men, 282 women and 114 children. The operation, launched earlier this week, has steadily expanded in scale. Gujarat Police had initially reported the detention of 362 suspected illegal Bangladeshi nationals on June 3, a figure that later rose to 501 on June 4 before reaching 568 by Friday morning. Authorities have also been questioning hundreds of other individuals as part of the verification process.
In a statement issued by the state government, Sanghavi said, “No compromise with the security and peace of the state will be tolerated.” He added that similar drives against illegal infiltration and unauthorised settlement would continue in the future. ‘Operation Delta Hunt’ was launched as a coordinated Intelligence-led exercise involving police units across Gujarat.
Officials have previously stated that the operation combines telecom analysis, technical surveillance, human Intelligence and field verification to identify suspected undocumented foreign nationals. Gujarat Police said a database of more than 6,200 suspected individuals was prepared through Intelligence gathering and telecom analysis before raids and verification exercises began. According to police, checkpoints were established at bus stations, highways and railway stations during the initial phase of the operation to prevent suspects from leaving targeted areas.
Investigators are also examining alleged networks that may have facilitated accommodation, employment and documentation for individuals found residing illegally in the state. State authorities said search operations remain active in several districts, with specialised teams continuing to verify the identities of other suspected individuals and investigate locations linked to the case.
The government stated that legal proceedings have been initiated against those detained and that further action will be taken in accordance with applicable laws. The latest arrests make ‘Operation Delta hunt’ one of Gujarat’s largest recent drives targeting suspected illegal immigration, with police indicating that additional verification and enforcement measures are expected to continue in the coming days.
IANS
