Over 30 suspected Bangladeshi nationals detained in OMR verification drive

CHENNAI: More than 30 suspected Bangladeshi nationals were detained during a large-scale verification drive carried out by the Tambaram City Police across the Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) corridor in Chennai's southern suburbs, officials said on Monday.

The operation was launched following intelligence inputs that foreign nationals were staying illegally in parts of Chengalpattu district and working in star hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, apartment complexes and industrial establishments.

Special police teams conducted simultaneous inspections in Kelambakkam, Thaiyur, Navalur, Thazhambur, Padur, Pudupakkam, Kanathur and Muttukadu. During the drive, more than 500 migrant workers from states including West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha and Jharkhand were brought to a private marriage hall at Kazhipattur for document verification.

Police examined Aadhaar cards and other identity documents of the workers. During the scrutiny, more than 30 persons were found to be suspected Bangladeshi nationals allegedly using fake addresses in West Bengal while living and working in Tamil Nadu.

Preliminary inquiry revealed that the detainees had allegedly entered India illegally through the Bangladesh-West Bengal border before travelling by train to Tamil Nadu in search of employment, police sources said.

The detained persons have been handed over to immigration and citizenship verification authorities for further investigation. Officials will verify their nationality, examine whether they have any criminal links and initiate legal procedures, including deportation to Bangladesh if found to be residing in the country illegally.

Police said the verification drive forms part of an intensified crackdown on illegal foreign nationals living in the Chennai suburban region. With more than two lakh migrant workers employed in construction, hospitality and other sectors across the OMR belt, officials suspect that more undocumented foreign nationals could be living among the workforce. Similar verification drives will be conducted regularly in the coming months, police added.