Police find 13 Bangladeshis at building sites across NCR in drive to spot illegals, to send them back

Gurgaon: Thirteen Bangladeshi nationals who allegedly entered India illegally through the West Bengal border and spent the past few years working at construction sites across the NCR city have been detained during a special police verification drive and are now set to be sent back to their country.The men, picked up from construction sites and settlements in sectors 69, 70 and 104, are currently undergoing legal procedures that will eventually see them handed over to Bangladeshi authorities through the Border Security Force (BSF). Police said the action was part of an ongoing campaign aimed at identifying foreign nationals living in the city without valid documents.The detainees were identified as Arif, Sumon Ali, Sabir Hussain, Rubal, Sakib, Robiul, Gulzar Hussain, Naeem, Mehboob, Hamidur Islam, Atiyar Rahman and Mohammad Hesan.

Most are in the 20-30 age group and were working as labourers at different construction sites.The operation was carried out by the Sector 39 crime branch under the supervision of DCP (crime) Hitesh Yadav after specific intelligence inputs about suspected illegal migrants. Teams conducted searches over the past two days at labour colonies, slum clusters and construction sites.“During verification, documents linked to their Bangladeshi citizenship were recovered.

They were staying here illegally and working at multiple construction sites,” a police officer said.According to police, several detainees admitted during questioning that they had crossed into India through the Kaliaganj border in West Bengal with the help of “agents” before travelling to Gurgaon in search of work.Sumon Ali told TOI he entered India in 2022 and had been living and working in the city since then.

“Yes, I am a Bangladesh citizen and was staying here for the past four years. Police detained me from a construction site,” he said.Another detainee, Arif, said he entered India in 2024 for employment and was picked up from a construction site near Tulip Chowk in Sector 70.According to police, the next stage will involve legal proceedings. After medical examinations conducted on Tuesday, the 13 men are expected to be shifted to the “deportation centre” at Sector 1 in IMT Manesar, where they will remain until documentation is completed.“The Bangladesh high commission will be informed. They will be handed over to the BSF after completion of all documentation. The BSF will then transfer them to Bangladeshi officials across the border,” an officer said.Officials said the detentions are part of a wider district-wide verification exercise being carried out in slum settlements, rented accommodations, industrial areas, hotels and commercial establishments.

Police have appealed to residents to verify tenants, domestic helpers and workers employed at shops and businesses.“This exercise is being carried out keeping national security and public safety in mind. No foreign national or Indian citizen living legally will face harassment,” police spokesperson Sandeep Turan said.The latest action comes nearly a year after 10 Bangladeshi nationals detained during a similar drive were sent back through the BSF after completion of legal formalities.