Gujarat Police detain 362 Bangladeshis in 'Operation Delta Hunt' crackdown
Synopsis
In a single-night sweep across Gujarat, police detained 362 alleged Bangladeshi nationals and flagged 782 more under ‘Operation Delta Hunt’ — a data-led drive that screened over 6,200 suspects using telecom analysis and Cyber Centre inputs. Investigators say some detainees entered via West Bengal years ago and later acquired Indian identity documents.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat Police detained 362 Bangladeshi nationals in a coordinated statewide operation announced on 3 June .
Over 782 more suspects remain under investigation; more than 6,200 individuals were screened in total.
Detainees include 103 men, 188 women and 71 children , per an official.
Ahmedabad city led with 155 detentions , followed by Surat at 84 .
Rao said the operation used telecom data via the Cyber Centre of Excellence and local intelligence.
Some detainees allegedly entered through West Bengal years ago and later obtained Indian identity papers.
Gujarat Police have detained 362 Bangladeshi nationals allegedly residing illegally in India and are questioning over 782 more suspected individuals under a sweeping statewide drive codenamed ‘Operation Delta Hunt’, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi announced on Wednesday, 3 June. The crackdown, executed simultaneously across multiple districts, screened more than 6,200 suspicious individuals using telecom analysis, technical surveillance and ground intelligence.
Key Developments
Addressing a press conference in Gandhinagar, Sanghavi said the operation combined data forensics with human intelligence to zero in on suspects. ‘After examining data, documents and other details, 362 people have been confirmed as Bangladeshi nationals. The investigation of more than 780 others is still underway and will continue,’ he said.
According to an official, the detainees include 103 men, 188 women and 71 children. Sanghavi described the simultaneous statewide sweep as a ‘historic success’ for the Gujarat Police, crediting personnel for apprehending such a large number of individuals in a single night.
District-wise Breakdown
Ahmedabad city accounted for the highest number of detentions at 155, followed by Surat city with 84. Authorities also detained 34 individuals from Ahmedabad Rural, 13 from East Kutch-Gandhidham and 12 from Bharuch, with operations extending to several other districts.
How the Operation Was Built
Director General of Police K. L. N. Rao said the action drew on technical data and field verification, with extensive telecom analysis routed through the Cyber Centre of Excellence and local intelligence networks. ‘A database of Indian mobile numbers that had communicated with Bangladeshi numbers was prepared. Through this process, a database of more than 6,200 suspected Bangladeshis was compiled, and ground operations were launched,’ Rao said.
Document Fraud Allegations
Sanghavi said investigations had uncovered cases in which some detainees allegedly entered India years ago through different parts of West Bengal before obtaining local documents that were later used to secure official identity papers. Police said all apprehensions were carried out as per legal procedures and that further verification and deportation processes would follow under the law.
What Happens Next
Sanghavi said ‘Operation Delta Hunt’ would continue across every region of Gujarat, with authorities pledging to identify and act against every person found to be residing illegally. This comes amid intensified scrutiny of undocumented migration in several states, with Gujarat now joining a growing list of regions running coordinated identification drives. The verification of the remaining 782 suspects is expected to shape the next phase of the crackdown.
Point of View
Run through a dedicated cyber unit. That signals a shift from reactive policing to data-led identification, with implications well beyond Gujarat. The harder question, surfaced by the state's own admission of document fraud, is upstream: how did identity papers get issued in the first place? Until that loop is closed, periodic crackdowns will keep producing big single-night numbers without resolving the underlying breach.
NationPress
2 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Operation Delta Hunt in Gujarat?
Operation Delta Hunt is a statewide crackdown launched by Gujarat Police to identify and detain Bangladeshi nationals allegedly residing illegally in India. Announced on 3 June, it combined telecom analysis, technical surveillance and human intelligence to screen more than 6,200 suspected individuals.
How many people were detained under Operation Delta Hunt?
Gujarat Police detained 362 individuals confirmed as Bangladeshi nationals, while investigations into more than 782 other suspects are ongoing. The detainees include 103 men, 188 women and 71 children, according to an official.
Which districts saw the most detentions?
Ahmedabad city recorded the highest number with 155 detentions, followed by Surat city with 84. Other detentions were reported from Ahmedabad Rural (34), East Kutch-Gandhidham (13) and Bharuch (12), among other districts.
How did police identify the suspects?
Police compiled a database of Indian mobile numbers that had communicated with Bangladeshi numbers, supported by the Cyber Centre of Excellence and local intelligence inputs. This yielded a list of more than 6,200 suspected individuals, which was then verified through ground operations.
What happens to those detained next?
Police said all apprehensions followed legal procedures and that further verification and deportation processes will be carried out as per the law. Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi said the operation will continue across all regions of Gujarat.
