New Delhi: On Thursday, India called on Bangladesh to accelerate the process of nationality verification to assist in the deportation of numerous illegal Bangladeshi immigrants currently residing in India.

During a weekly press briefing, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), emphasized that individuals residing in India without legal status, regardless of their nationality, will face legal consequences.

Jaiswal noted, "There are many Bangladeshi nationals in India who need to be deported. We have requested the Bangladeshi government to confirm their nationality. Currently, there are over 2,360 cases pending for deportation, with many individuals having completed their prison sentences. The nationality verification for several cases has been pending since 2020."

Illegal migrants often enter India without proper travel documentation, complicating efforts to accurately assess the number of such individuals living in the country.

Earlier this month, security forces apprehended five Bangladeshi nationals in Assam's South Salmara district for illegal entry and subsequently deported them.

Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma remarked that there has been a noticeable increase in Bangladeshi infiltration in recent months, attributing it to the collapse of the textile industry in Bangladesh, which has left many unemployed.

"In recent months, we have detained approximately 1,000 Bangladeshi individuals, all of whom were promptly deported after their arrests," Sarma stated, highlighting the economic turmoil in Bangladesh due to escalating unrest.

In a separate operation, Delhi Police apprehended six Bangladeshi women across various locations in the capital this month, dismantling a significant trafficking network that was smuggling individuals from Bangladesh into India. The authorities confirmed that these women were living in India without valid documentation and will be deported.

Last month, Gujarat witnessed one of the largest operations against illegal immigration, with state police arresting over 1,000 Bangladeshi nationals in a single day. Under the direction of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Minister of State for Home Affairs Harsh Sanghavi, Ahmedabad Police detained 890 individuals, while Surat Police arrested 134.

Recent reports from Bangladeshi media indicated that India's Border Security Force (BSF) pushed approximately 300 individuals, including Rohingyas, back into Bangladesh between May 7 and May 9 through remote border points. Following this incident, the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry expressed concerns to India regarding the influx of individuals into their territory.