Ahmedabad: The Chandola Talav area in Ahmedabad, which has emerged as a hub of illegal Bangladeshi intruders entering via Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal, is witnessing a major demolition operation today, April 29, 2025.

A massive exercise has been launched jointly by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and the State Police. As many as 80 JCB machines and 60 dumpers have been deployed for this large-scale operation, which is taking place in the presence of estate officers from all seven zones of Ahmedabad. Ahead of the demolition drive, illegal power connections were disconnected a day earlier.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel also held a meeting at the Ahmedabad Police Commissioner’s office this afternoon to review the status of the ongoing operations. Gujarat DGP Vikas Sahay and Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi were also present at the meeting.

The City Police Commissioner had visited the Chandola Talav area a day prior to monitor the situation. Most illegal Bangladeshi migrants reportedly vacated their homes following a night operation conducted by city police, during which over 1,000 suspected illegal Bangladeshi nationals were detained for identity verification.

Chandola Talav has seen significant encroachment due to the continued arrival of Bangladeshi intruders, who, aided by the allegedly lenient policies of the West Bengal government, often manage to obtain false Indian citizenship documentation.

Out of the 890 individuals detained from the Chandola Talav area, 143 were confirmed to be Bangladeshi citizens, while 200 were released from detention after their identities were verified.

In recent past, satellite pictures emerged showing how over the years, a portion of Chandola Talav was buried with soil and waste by Bangladeshi illegal migrants in order to develop their settlement here. Several areas of the city of Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Surat are facing huge influx of migrant Muslims from outside the State.

Lallu Bihari(Mehmood)’s Farm House Demolished

Among various illegal units of Bangladeshi intruders that are being demolished today, one eye-catching premises is belonging to Lallu Bihari (Mehmood), who is presently on run. A complaint has been lodged against him. Lallu Bihari and his son would create false rental agreements, they would also run prostitution racket. There were AC room in Lallu Bihari’s farm house. 50 cars and 250 rickshaws were with him. Illegal lending racket was also run by Lalu Bihari with high interest. He would snatch auto rickshaw if interest money not paid. Lallu would also issue parking cards for rickshaws, loading rickshaws and two-wheelers and charge for parking. Money were collected through Kash Savarni Corner and A-One brooms. He had started A-One Nagar residential scheme in Juhapura area as well.

The encroached property, which is spread across 2,000 square yards and hidden behind dense trees, was claimed to be a parking area. However, during the probe, it was found that it was a well-equipped farmhouse, complete with a garden, fountain, air-conditioned rooms, kitchen, swings, and a children’s play area.

City Police Commissioner who was in the Chandola area to inspect the ongoing operation, said, ‘Lallu Bihari has made shops, over 200 autorickshaws, and horses. He was helping in making false rent agreements. It’s surprising to see all this in the lake area. There’s an order by the Supreme Court against encroachment on the lake. Demolition was carried out here in 2009 also, not this big, but they reconstructed after that. We are in search of Bangladeshi intruders in other areas of the city as well. Around 190 Bangladeshi intruders are identified already. Lalla Bihari is booked by police, and the Crime Branch will probe into his activities and aides’. He further said that the demolition drive is being executed by the AMC, while police are here for security bandobast.

Country liquor godown found

As soon as the bulldozers moved in the Bangladeshi slums at Chandola talav, police and media persons spotted a country liquor godown in one of the houses with number of plastic bags containing country liquor.

DeshGujarat