Delhi L-G directs police drive against Bangladeshi infiltrators, in wake of attack on Saif Ali Khan
In the wake of the grievous attack on Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan in his Mumbai home, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has directed the police commissioner to launch a “special campaign” to identify Bangladeshi and Rohingya “infiltrators” in the city, Raj Niwas officials said on Monday.
“An outreach programme may be launched through print and social media to generate public awareness on the importance of verification of employees or domestic help and workers including construction labour in the interest of their own security,” L-G's Secretariat stated in a letter to Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora.
The Delhi Police had recently started a comprehensive operation to find all people of Bangladesh origin who are illegally residing in Delhi without any documentation. The directives were given by L-G Saxena who had set a two-month timeline to identify and expel all illegal intruders.
In the past two months, the Delhi Police in a series of operations arrested hundreds of illegal immigrants and even found out the connection of an AAP MLA with one of the arrested individuals.
“Lt Governor has taken note of the grave criminal incident involving a high profile Bollywood actor in Mumbai, wherein a Bangladeshi national was involved in a house break and criminal assault. The L-G has observed that the involvement of illegal Bangladeshi or Rohingya infiltrators in criminal or illegal activities in Delhi cannot be ruled out,” a senior officer from the L-G's Secretariat said.
The officer underscored that such “illegal immigrants” are often employed by shopkeepers and other residents as workers or house help at far lower wages than the prescribed minimum wages, thereby depressing local labour markets.
“The Lt Governor has also pointed out that there are organised syndicates and vested interest groups which facilitate the settlement of such immigrants, facilitate their employment on the basis of forged documents such as Aadhar, Voter ID and Ration Card etc,” the officer said.
In the letter to the police commissioner, the L-G also advised to sensitise residents welfare associations and market associations about the need for verification before employment.
"For those employers who are providing employment, accommodation or shelter to such illegal immigrants without antecedent verification, suitable legal action may also be initiated,” it said.