India’s political landscape has once again been stirred by discussions involving Bangladesh and its citizens. While the ruling BJP frequently warns of ‘identifying illegal Bangladeshi migrants’, a recent incident in Uttar Pradesh has escalated the controversy to a new level. A police officer in Ghaziabad allegedly claimed to possess a device capable of identifying Bangladeshi nationals, sparking widespread outrage.
According to reports from Indian media, on 23 December last year, a special police team conducted an operation in a slum area of Bihari Market in Ghaziabad. During the raid, a police officer was captured on video placing a mobile phone-like device on a man’s back, declaring, “The device says this person is Bangladeshi.”
The footage, widely circulated on social media, shows the officer addressing residents of the slum, warning them, “Do not lie. We have a device; it will detect dishonesty.” Several residents, including a woman and a minor girl, protested, showing official identification proving they were from Araria district in Bihar, but the officers allegedly ignored their claims.
Major Indian newspapers, including The Hindu, Anandabazar, and Hindustan Times (Bengali edition), reported extensively on the incident. The Hindu noted on 2 January: “Video shows threats during operation; officer warned by police.” Meanwhile, Anandabazar headlined: “Ghaziabad police allegedly identifies ‘Bangladeshis’ with citizenship device; investigation ordered.”
Officials later clarified that the operation was a routine law enforcement raid intended to check for any suspicious activity, not an exercise in citizenship verification. The Assistant Police Commissioner of Indirapuram, Abhishek Srivastava, told the media, “The video came to our attention via social media. Investigations confirm it was from Kaushambi Thana, where temporary residents and slum dwellers were questioned during a routine sweep.”
The incident has drawn sharp political reactions. The Indian National Congress has called for judicial intervention. Ajay Rai, President of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee, stated, “We have no faith that the state police or administration will act against these officers, as the directives come from above. We hope the High Court will take suo motu action.” He added that such humiliating incidents are unfortunately common in Uttar Pradesh, further eroding the rule of law.
Key Details of the Incident :
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Police Station | Kaushambi Thana |
| Date of Incident | 23 December (Video surfaced 2 January) |
| Allegation | Use of ‘Bangladeshi detection device’ |
| Officers Involved | Unnamed Kaushambi police officer(s) |
| Media Coverage | The Hindu, Anandabazar, Hindustan Times (Bengali) |
| Official Response | Routine operation; investigation ongoing |
| Political Reaction | Congress calls for judicial review |
The episode has raised concerns about civil liberties, law enforcement ethics, and the growing politicisation of identity verification in India. Analysts warn that such incidents not only provoke social outrage but also risk undermining the credibility of the police and the justice system.