NEW DELHI: Delhi Police has deported over 2,100 Bangladeshi nationals living illegally in the capital during 2024–25, with most deportations taking place this year. According to data released on Tuesday, Outer Delhi reported the highest number of deportations at 370, followed by North West Delhi with 226.
Transgender Identity Used to Evade Identification
Investigations revealed that several undocumented immigrants used gender disguise as a tactic to avoid scrutiny. Two individuals, Mohammad Raisul Islam (27) and Mohammad Ebrahim Howlader (26), were apprehended on July 23 from beneath the Bhalswa Dairy flyover in North West Delhi. Both admitted to being Bangladeshi nationals and claimed to have undergone gender-affirming surgery to appear female. They wore sarees or salwar suits, applied makeup, used wigs, and adopted feminine mannerisms, voice modulations, and body language. Police stated that they were found begging during the day.
Earlier on June 28, five other Bangladeshi nationals posing as transgender women were detained from the same area. They confessed to taking hormonal treatments and undergoing minor surgeries to change their physical appearance. According to police, such strategies allowed them to merge into slum clusters and remain unnoticed due to public sensitivity toward transgender persons.
Fake Aadhaar Cards, Property Purchases, and Labour Work
The crackdown also exposed a wider network involving illegal work and fake documentation. Many Bangladeshi immigrants were found working in brick kilns in remote locations using forged Aadhaar cards. In some cases, these cards were procured with the assistance of local traffickers. Others were discovered to have purchased property in West Bengal using fake Indian IDs to establish local residency.
On June 4, 18 Bangladeshi nationals were detained in Bharat Nagar, North West Delhi. They had previously worked as labourers in Haryana and later relocated to Delhi’s slum settlements. Authorities have now established detention centres, both temporary and permanent, in places like Lampur and Sarai Rohilla, with capacities ranging from 50–60 people.
Temporary centres have also been set up in Roop Nagar, Vijay Vihar, Bhadola village, and Seelampur, depending on the number of detainees. Police teams are tasked with verifying individuals’ identities and coordinating with the Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office for deportation. Deportations are carried out via trains or flights and supervised by security forces at the border.
Police said that most migrants arrive in Delhi by train with the help of traffickers. Upon arrival, they are assisted in obtaining forged Indian IDs and securing employment in low-wage sectors such as ragpicking, labour work, and domestic service.