Police detain 103 Bangladeshi nationals from West Zone districts for illegal stay in 2025

The police detained a total of 103 Bangladeshi nationals from eight districts in the West Zone in 2025, registering a steep rise from 35 detentions in 2024.

According to the police, majority of the Bangladeshi nationals worked in textile-related and other industries, after migrating to the country illegally and posing as West Bengal natives.

A. Saravana Sundar, Inspector General of Police, West Zone, told The Hindu that lack of proper verification of the credentials of the workers by employers was one of the reasons for the illegal stay of the foreigners in these districts.

During detentions by the police and other agencies, it was found that illegal migrants had given fake addresses in West Bengal and copies of forged documents, including Aadhaar card, to get jobs here. Employers, who were unable to verify these addresses and documents, offered them jobs with minimal wage.

“The police instructs industries, from time to time, to verify credentials of workers before employing them. They have also been asked to alert the police upon receiving information on the presence of Bangladeshi nationals staying illegally,” said Mr. Sundar, whose jurisdiction covers Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Erode, the Nilgiris, Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts.

In a recent operation involving the police and the Q Branch, 11 Bangladeshi nationals were detained near Annur in Coimbatore district. On February 4, the police detained 13 Bangladeshi nationals from Tiruppur and four others from Erode a day before.

According to Mr. Sundar, the police conduct surprise checks based on intelligence, specific alerts and also from intelligence shared by other agencies such as Q Branch and the Anti-Terrorism Squad. Joint operations are also carried out.

“Those detained are initially shifted to the designated special camp in Salem and later deported to their country through proper channels,” he added.

Another police officer said some of the agents, who arrange migrant workforce for industries in the region, were also involved in the illegal migration of Bangladeshi nationals. They commit the crime for commission from illegal migrants.