Gujarat Police arrest 568 illegal Bangladeshis in Operation Delta Hunt crackdown
Synopsis
In under 72 hours, Gujarat Police went from detaining 362 to 568 alleged illegal Bangladeshi nationals — including 114 children — under Operation Delta Hunt, built on a pre-raid database of over 6,200 suspects. With networks allegedly facilitating shelter, jobs, and fake documents now under scrutiny, the operation signals one of the state's most systematic immigration enforcement drives in recent memory.
Key Takeaways
568 Bangladeshi nationals allegedly residing illegally have been arrested under Operation Delta Hunt in Gujarat as of 8 am, Friday 6 June .
Detainees include 172 men , 282 women , and 114 children .
Arrest count has risen sharply from 362 on 3 June to 501 on 4 June to 568 by Friday morning.
A pre-operation database of over 6,200 suspects was compiled using telecom analysis and human intelligence.
Deputy CM and Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi is supervising the operation and has pledged continued enforcement drives.
Investigators are probing alleged networks that provided accommodation, employment, and documentation to undocumented individuals.
Gujarat Police have arrested 568 Bangladeshi nationals allegedly residing illegally in the state under Operation Delta Hunt, a statewide intelligence-led crackdown that has been expanding steadily since its launch earlier this week. The latest figures, recorded up to 8 am on Friday, 6 June, cover detentions across multiple districts of Gujarat.
Who Was Detained
Of the 568 individuals arrested, 172 are men, 282 are women, and 114 are children, according to state government figures. Authorities are also questioning hundreds of additional individuals as part of an ongoing identity verification process.
How the Operation Has Escalated
The scale of detentions has grown rapidly since the operation began. Gujarat Police initially reported 362 suspected illegal Bangladeshi nationals detained on 3 June; that figure rose to 501 by 4 June before reaching 568 by Friday morning. State authorities say search operations remain active across several districts, with specialised teams continuing verification exercises.
What Authorities Said
Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi, who is supervising the operation, stated: 'No compromise with the security and peace of the state will be tolerated.' He added that similar drives against illegal infiltration and unauthorised settlement would continue in the future.
How the Operation Works
Operation Delta Hunt was designed as a coordinated intelligence-led exercise involving police units across Gujarat. According to officials, it combines telecom analysis, technical surveillance, human intelligence, and field verification to identify suspected undocumented foreign nationals. A database of more than 6,200 suspected individuals was reportedly compiled through intelligence gathering and telecom analysis before raids began. Checkpoints were established at bus stations, highways, and railway stations during the initial phase to prevent suspects from leaving targeted areas.
What Happens Next
Investigators are examining alleged networks that may have facilitated accommodation, employment, and documentation for those found residing illegally in the state. Legal proceedings have been initiated against those detained, with further action to follow under applicable laws. This comes amid a broader national focus on illegal immigration, making Operation Delta Hunt one of Gujarat's largest recent enforcement drives of this kind. Police have indicated that additional verification and enforcement measures are expected to continue in the coming days.
Point of View
200 suspects compiled before a single arrest was made suggests a level of intelligence preparation rarely seen in state-level immigration enforcement. The rapid escalation from 362 to 568 detentions in under 72 hours also points to a coordinated political signal, not merely a policing exercise. What remains unaddressed publicly is the due-process framework: with 114 children among those detained, questions of legal safeguards, consular notification, and verification standards deserve scrutiny that official statements have so far not provided. The probe into facilitation networks — covering shelter, employment, and documentation — could prove more consequential than the headline arrest numbers.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Operation Delta Hunt in Gujarat?
Operation Delta Hunt is a statewide intelligence-led crackdown launched by Gujarat Police to identify and detain suspected illegal Bangladeshi nationals residing in the state. It uses telecom analysis, technical surveillance, human intelligence, and field verification, and was preceded by a database of over 6,200 suspects compiled before raids began.
How many people have been arrested under Operation Delta Hunt so far?
As of 8 am on Friday, 6 June, Gujarat Police have arrested 568 individuals — comprising 172 men, 282 women, and 114 children — allegedly residing illegally in the state. The number has risen from 362 on 3 June and 501 on 4 June.
Who is overseeing Operation Delta Hunt?
The operation is being conducted under the supervision of Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi, who has stated that drives against illegal infiltration and unauthorised settlement will continue in the future.
What happens to those detained under Operation Delta Hunt?
State authorities say legal proceedings have been initiated against those detained, with further action to follow under applicable laws. Investigators are also examining alleged networks that may have facilitated accommodation, employment, and documentation for the individuals found in the state.
Why is Operation Delta Hunt significant?
It is considered one of Gujarat's largest recent enforcement drives targeting suspected illegal immigration. The operation's pre-raid intelligence database of over 6,200 suspects and its rapid expansion across multiple districts mark it as an unusually systematic state-level exercise.
