In a recent operation in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, authorities detained 90 Bangladeshi nationals, including 22 children, for allegedly residing illegally in India. The individuals were apprehended on Friday, May 16, 2025, from brickyards located in Khajpur village, which falls under the Naujheel police station limits.

According to officials, the operation was part of an intensified drive by the Uttar Pradesh government to track down and deport Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants living illegally in the state. Shlok Kumar, the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Mathura, stated that the inspection was conducted to verify the identities and legal status of laborers working in the rural areas of the district.

During the inspection of brick kilns in Khajpur village, the police team discovered approximately 90 individuals who identified as citizens of Bangladesh. The group consisted of 35 men, 27 women, and 28 children, all of whom were taken into custody for further questioning. SSP Kumar informed that the detained individuals claimed to have arrived in Mathura three to four months prior to their arrest, and that they had been residing in a neighboring state before that.

In addition to the arrests made in Mathura, Uttarakhand police also apprehended two foreign nationals during a verification drive. The individuals included a US citizen and a Bangladeshi woman.

During the Mathura operation, law enforcement officials seized 31 mobile phones, two Aadhaar cards, four photocopies of Aadhaar cards, and one PAN card from the detained individuals. A senior Mathura police official involved in the investigation revealed that the individuals claimed to have crossed porous borders into India 10 to 15 years ago and had since moved around in Delhi, Haryana, and Bihar before arriving in Mathura. Some had been in Mathura for approximately three to four months, while others had arrived just 15 to 20 days prior to their apprehension.

Authorities have initiated investigations into the contractors and owners of the brickyards where the detained individuals were employed. SSP Shlok Kumar stated that a case has been registered in connection with the matter under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act, 1946, as well as various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) related to cheating, forgery, and alteration of documents.

The Aadhaar cards seized from the detainees originated from Pratapgarh and other districts in Uttar Pradesh. Central agencies have been notified about the matter, and authorities are proceeding with the lawful deportation of the detained individuals. This incident highlights the ongoing efforts by the Uttar Pradesh government to identify and deport illegal immigrants residing in the state, with a focus on Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants.