In a determined move to reclaim encroached land and remove illegal foreign nationals from Bharat, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) launched Phase 2 of its massive demolition drive in the Chandola area on May 20, 2025. The operation comes in the wake of growing national concern over illegal immigration, especially from Bangladesh.
Massive Deployment in Phase 2
Phase 2 of the demolition drive, much larger in scale than its predecessor, began at 6 AM with 60 JCBs, 40 cranes, and 3,000 police personnel clearing illegal structures along the route from Suryanagar Police Post to Mira Cinema. Authorities aim to reclaim 2.5 lakh square meters of encroached land in this phase, surpassing the 1.5 lakh square meters cleared earlier.
The AMC had issued warnings to the occupants, primarily illegal Bangladeshi migrants, to vacate their homes in advance. Loudspeaker announcements were made throughout the week, alerting settlers to leave voluntarily.
Illegal Settlements and Arrests
According to Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik, Chandola had turned into a hub for illegal Bangladeshi migrants and associated unlawful activities. Of the 250 Bangladeshis arrested in Ahmedabad in 2025 so far, 207 were apprehended from Chandola alone. The sheer concentration prompted an aggressive operation involving Joint Commissioners, DCPs, and 25 companies of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF).
Drones have been deployed to monitor the operation, and police say they are prepared for the drive to extend beyond its initial three-day timeline.
A Nationwide Message: Bharat is Not a Dharamshala
The demolition drive is part of a broader message from the Union government that Bharat will no longer serve as a refuge for illegal foreign nationals. Just a day earlier, the Supreme Court dismissed a plea by a Sri Lankan national seeking to remain in India, with Justice Dipankar Datta stating:
“Is India to host refugees from all over the world? We are already struggling with a population of 140 crore. This is not a dharamshala where we can entertain foreign nationals from everywhere.”
Centre’s 30-Day Deadline to States
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has set a 30-day deadline for all states and Union Territories to identify and verify suspected illegal immigrants, especially from Bangladesh and Myanmar. States have been instructed to build detention centers, review documents, and prepare for deportations.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has also directed the creation of task forces in every district to track illegal immigrants and share data with central agencies, including the UIDAI and Election Commission.
Rising Momentum Post-Operation Sindoor
Following India’s bold cross-border strikes under Operation Sindoor, internal security agencies have intensified surveillance and crackdown efforts. The synergy between central and state agencies is being hailed as a long-overdue course correction.