Massive Crackdown In Ahmedabad: 60 JCBs, 3000 Cops, 200+ Illegal Bangladeshis Held In Chandola Demolition Drive

In the Chandola area of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, a large-scale demolition drive is presently taking place to remove illegal constructions. Phase 2 of the operation began early in the morning at 6 am on May 20, 2025. This phase is focused on clearing illegal houses built along the road from Suryanagar Police Post in the Isanpur area to Mira Cinema.

This second phase is much bigger in scale compared to the first phase. In the first phase, around 1.5 lakh square meters of land were cleared. In phase 2, around 2.5 lakh square meters of land will be cleared.

60 JCB machines, 40 cranes, and around 3,000 police personnel have been deployed to carry out this operation. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) had announced the demolition in advance using loudspeakers across the area on Monday afternoon. Residents were also being warned for a week to vacate the houses before the demolition started.

Majority Of Bangladeshi Arrests In 2025 Linked To Chandola, Say Ahmedabad Police

In a press briefing, Ahmedabad City Police Commissioner GS Malik shared that the Chandola Lake area had become a hub for Bangladeshi infiltrators and illegal activities had started to increase there. In 2025, a total of 250 Bangladeshis were arrested in Ahmedabad, and out of these, 207 were caught from the Chandola area alone. Earlier, only 10 to 40 Bangladeshis used to be caught each year, but this number has now increased significantly.

Commissioner Malik said that for the second phase of the demolition drive, around 3,000 police personnel have been deployed. This includes one Joint Commissioner, one Additional Commissioner, 6 Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs), and several Police Inspectors. In addition to this, 25 companies of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) are also supporting the operation. Drones will be used for surveillance during the drive.

He added that in the first phase of the operation, about 1.5 lakh square meters of land were cleared. In the second phase, the target is to clear 2.5 lakh square meters. The demolition is expected to last for three to four days, but even if it takes longer, the authorities are fully prepared to continue the operation.

Ahmedabad, Gujarat: An anti-encroachment drive around Chandola Lake led to the demolition of illegal structures. Authorities noted that 207 out of 250 individuals detained this year were Bangladeshi nationals, with over 200 already deported.

Mathura, Uttar Pradesh: In a recent crackdown, 90 Bangladeshi nationals, including 22 children, were detained for residing illegally. Many had entered India 10-15 years ago and had lived in various states before settling in Mathura.

Pune, Maharashtra: Three Bangladeshi nationals were arrested for illegally residing in a flat in Katraj. One individual had previously been arrested for a similar offense and was out on bail.

Odisha: The state government has initiated a campaign to identify and deport illegal Bangladeshi nationals, focusing on regions like Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, and Malkangiri.

Meanwhile, India has decided to tighten rules on the import of goods from Bangladesh. Readymade garments from Bangladesh can enter only India through two sea ports—Kolkata and Nhava Sheva (in Maharashtra). Some other products from Bangladesh such as plastic items, wooden furniture, carbonated drinks, processed foods, fruit-flavoured drinks, cotton, and cotton waste will no longer be allowed through land border points in the northeastern states of Meghalaya, Assam, Tripura, and Mizoram, as well as Phulbari and Changrabandha in West Bengal.

Cross Border Movement And Smuggling In India By Bangladeshis

Three Bangladeshi women were detained for illegally entering India and living under false identities. One posed as a transgender individual selling street food, while others used banned apps to contact families in Bangladesh. Three Bangladeshi nationals, including a woman, were arrested for illegal entry and residing without valid documentation. One had a prior arrest for similar charges. In Mathura district, 90 Bangladeshi nationals, including 22 children, were apprehended for illegally residing and working in India. They had entered the country 10-15 years ago via porous borders.