In an intensified drive to identify and deport illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, Delhi Police have been conducting verification checks across multiple slum clusters, including Kanchan Kunj, Jamia Nagar, and Uttam Nagar. The crackdown follows a directive from the Lieutenant Governor's Secretariat, ordering action against unauthorized migrants.

Since December 10, over 58 people have been deported, and eight arrested, while nearly 5,000 individuals have been screened. Police teams visit settlements, demanding Aadhaar and other identity proofs. However, many residents claim they are Indian citizens, mostly from Assam and Bihar, and feel unfairly targeted due to their names or dialects.

Residents like Mohammed Aslam, a 19-year-old from Assam, and Rukhsana Begum, a mother of two, have faced repeated checks despite possessing Aadhaar cards. “How many times will we show the same document?” Begum asks, frustrated.

Meanwhile, authorities argue that proving illegal immigration has become challenging due to widespread document forgery. “We rely on trends like dialects and backgrounds,” a police officer admitted.

The police have also started investigating agents who facilitate illegal entry and document forgery. As fear spreads across these settlements, concerns over ethnic profiling and due process have been raised, leaving many residents questioning their place in the city they call home.