The Gujarat Police launched a statewide multi-agency crackdown named Operation Delta Hunt to detect and deport undocumented Bangladeshi nationals residing illegally in the state. Initiated in June 2026 under the direction of the state home ministry, the operation targets individuals identified as potential threats to national security. Within the first 48 hours of the high-intensity drive, law enforcement agencies verified and detained 501 Bangladeshi nationals. Simultaneously, security agencies placed a broader database of over 6,200 suspected foreign nationals under intense scrutiny using telecom analytics and local field intelligence.
Operational Mechanism and Technology
The execution of the drive relied heavily on digital forensics and data-driven targeting rather than random sweeps.
Telecom Analytics and Database Creation
The Cyber Centre of Excellence played a central role by conducting extensive telecommunication surveillance across the state. Technicians analyzed data to map out Indian mobile numbers that maintained regular, active communication with phone numbers located in Bangladesh. This technical filtration generated a primary database of more than 6,200 suspected individuals, which was then handed over to ground units for localized physical verification.
Strategic Interception and Containment
The operation was planned over 72 hours and executed simultaneously across multiple districts to eliminate the possibility of mass evasion. As tactical raids commenced in residential and commercial pockets, police units simultaneously locked down transit nodes, including major highways, state border checkpoints, railway stations, and inter-state bus terminals. This coordinated cordon disrupted escape routes, leading to the interception of 18 suspects attempting to flee the state.
Geographic Spread and Demographics
The density of illegal settlements showed a clear pattern, with industrial hubs and urban centers showing the highest concentration of undocumented individuals.
District-wise Concentration
The initial phase of the operation revealed that the majority of the undocumented migrants were concentrated in industrial and manufacturing zones.
| Location / District | Number of Detainees | Key Occupational / Settlement Sectors |
|---|---|---|
| Ahmedabad City | 155 | Manual labor, rag-picking, spa centers, Chandola Lake area settlements |
| Surat City | 84 | Textile units, commercial casual labor |
| Ahmedabad Rural | 34 | Agri-labor, brick kilns, suburban construction |
| East Kutch-Gandhidham | 13 | Port-related manual labor, logistics hubs |
| Bharuch | 12 | Chemical industrial estates, daily wage construction |
Demographic Breakdown
Out of the initial 362 fully verified detainees processed during the opening hours of the drive, the demographic composition consisted of 103 men, 188 women, and 71 children. The detained individuals were shifted to the Joint Integration Centre in Naroda, Ahmedabad, to undergo formal administrative processing prior to legal deportation.
Modus Operandi of Infiltration and Facilitation
The investigation exposed a organized network of local intermediaries and cross-border modules that facilitate illegal migration.
Document Forgery and Infiltration Route
Interrogations revealed that a high percentage of the migrants entered India via porous riverine and land patches along international borders in West Bengal. Local agents in border villages provided initial, low-level state documents. These fraudulent local certificates were subsequently utilized as base documents to fraudulently secure official Indian identity proofs, including Aadhaar cards and Voter ID cards.
Action Against Domestic Exploitative Networks
The state government adopted a zero-tolerance policy toward domestic enablers. Law enforcement agencies initiated parallel criminal investigations against local employers, landlords, and contractors. Legal action is being taken against individuals who provided commercial employment or housing accommodations without completing the mandatory police verification procedures.
IASPOINT Booster Facts for UPSC
- The Foreigners Act, 1946: Gives the Central Government absolute, unfettered powers to prohibit, regulate, or restrict the entry, presence, and departure of foreigners inside India. Under Section 3(2)(c) of this Act, the power to identify and deport illegal foreign nationals stands delegated to State Governments and Union Territory administrations.
- The Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920: Mandates that any person entering India must possess a valid passport issued by a competent authority, failing which they face immediate detention and imprisonment.
- Joint Integration Centre (JIC): Specialized inter-agency holding and interrogation facilities managed jointly by state police, central intelligence agencies, and border security organs to process intercepted foreign nationals, check for espionage angles, and verify nationality claims before deportation.
- Biometric Enrolment Mitigation: The Ministry of Home Affairs mandates the collection of biometric data of all illegal migrants to freeze their data profiles, preventing them from acquiring fresh fake Indian identities under changed names in other states.