In a large-scale deportation drive, 250 Bangladeshi nationals residing unlawfully in Gujarat were deported from the country on Thursday amid stringent security arrangements. The group was flown out from the Vadodara Air Force Station aboard a special Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft, following their transfer from different districts across the state.
Authorities transported the individuals in four buses, each escorted by police teams, and had them handcuffed during the journey to avoid any security breaches. The entire operation, coordinated by Gujarat Police in collaboration with central agencies, was conducted under the directives of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
A senior Gujarat Police officer stated, &ldquo;Since the individuals were taken into custody and housed at temporary holding centres, the deportation process was already underway. The removal is handled by the Border Security Force (BSF), and we worked with the Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRRO) to follow the required procedures. The Home Ministry issued clear instructions to carry out deportations after the Pahalgam attacks in April.&rdquo;
According to the officer, the IAF deployed its Airbus A321 to transport the identified foreign nationals and others lacking documentation to bordering states in eastern India. From there, the BSF will take charge of repatriating them to Bangladesh through designated land border points. &ldquo;These individuals will be taken to areas close to the Bangladesh border, including some states in the North East and West Bengal, where the BSF will facilitate their return,&rdquo; the officer said.
This latest action comes amid a broader state-level effort to locate and expel illegal Bangladeshi residents. Over the past two months, Gujarat authorities have identified and sent back over 1,200 such individuals. A similar operation was conducted in May, when more than 300 undocumented Bangladeshis were deported from Gujarat.
Cities including Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, and Rajkot have been identified as key centres where undocumented migrants have settled. Surveillance and verification checks have been ramped up, with police and intelligence personnel uncovering several cases involving forged Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, and other fraudulent identity documents.
The deportation followed a series of targeted operations based on local intelligence inputs. Joint teams from Gujarat Police and central enforcement agencies raided suspected locations, detaining individuals lacking legal residence permits.
Officials have indicated that such enforcement drives will continue in the weeks ahead. Citizens have been encouraged to assist by reporting suspicious activities, as part of broader efforts to uphold national security and enforce immigration laws.
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Gujarat uses air force aircraft to shift illegal Bangladeshis for land border repatriation.

Gujarat Deports 250 via Special IAF Flight

Gujarat uses air force aircraft to shift illegal Bangladeshis for land border repatriation.

July 5, 2025 | 20:01 IST