In a major crackdown on illegal immigration, the Gujarat government has apprehended more than 800 illegal Bangladeshi nationals residing near Chandola Lake in Ahmedabad, an area commonly referred to as “mini-Bangladesh” due to its dense population of undocumented Bangladeshi migrants. The operation follows heightened security concerns in the wake of last month’s Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir.
According to sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), a list of 184 Bangladeshi nationals has already been prepared for deportation. “These individuals will be pushed back to Bangladesh shortly,” an MHA official confirmed. “The remaining, primarily women and children, are currently in custody and deportation procedures will be initiated for them in due course.”
The crackdown, launched on April 29 by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and Gujarat Police, has led to the demolition of approximately 4,000 illegal structures and the reclamation of over 1.5 lakh square yards of encroached land. On Thursday alone, the AMC focused on clearing the final 40,000 square yards, using heavy machinery and a strong police presence.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sharad Singhal stated that the area had become a hub for various criminal activities, including drug trafficking, human trafficking and even terrorism. In a recent case, four Bangladeshi nationals associated with the banned terror group Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) were arrested from the same locality. Their case is currently under investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Authorities also suspect links between the settlers and extremist groups such as Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) and Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), whose members recently released from Bangladeshi jails are believed to be attempting to infiltrate India.
One of the most significant finds during the operation was a 2,000-square-yard farmhouse linked to Mehmoodkhan Pathan, alias Lallu Bihari, who is accused of helping illegal immigrants obtain forged documents. An FIR has been filed against him and further investigations are underway to expose his alleged connections with local politicians and law enforcement officials.
The Gujarat cabinet, led by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, has approved a two-phase plan for the Chandola Lake area. The first phase involves the complete removal of illegal structures under the Gujarat Land Revenue Code, while the second envisions transforming the lake into a public space with green zones, recreational facilities and enhanced surveillance to prevent re-encroachment.
Follow us
