UP Orders Major Crackdown: CM Yogi Tells Officials to List Rohingya, Bangladeshi Workers and Set Up Detention Centres Across All Divisions

Lucknow | December 3, 2025 Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has launched a fresh and large-scale action plan aimed at identifying and detaining illegal immigrants living and working across the state. On Wednesday morning, he directed all 17 municipal corporations to prepare detailed lists of Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals who may be working in sanitation or other cleaning-related jobs, whether hired directly or through contractors. Once prepared, these lists are to be handed over to the Divisional Commissioners and Inspectors General of the concerned ranges so immediate verification and action can begin. The Chief Minister also instructed Divisional Commissioners and IGs of all 18 divisions and 18 ranges to establish detention centres in every division. This is in addition to his earlier order to district magistrates to set up temporary detention facilities and take strict action against anyone found living in the state without legal documents. Officials say this move is meant to speed up the identification, verification, and eventual deportation of illegal foreign nationals as per legal procedures. According to sources, many illegal immigrants take up sanitation work, making municipal bodies a key starting point for tracing them. Once the lists are submitted, officials have been asked to locate these individuals, check their identity documents, and move those found to be illegal into detention centres until the deportation process is completed. A government spokesperson confirmed that district authorities and police have already been running an active search drive since November 22 to track down illegal residents. The government pointed out that the crackdown along the Nepal border and major urban areas has picked up pace in recent weeks. With Uttar Pradesh sharing borders with eight states, one Union Territory, and Nepal, officials argue that infiltration attempts have increased in recent years. They say cases involving fake identity documents and other unlawful activities have created concerns about security and stability in border districts. The government also referred to information presented in Parliament in earlier years. According to statements made by former Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju, an estimated 20 million illegal Bangladeshi immigrants may be living in India, and more than 40,000 Rohingya refugees were believed to be residing in the country as of 2017. The state government cites these numbers as a reason for prioritising the crackdown. Officials say the presence of illegal foreign nationals affects welfare schemes, employment opportunities, and distribution of government resources. Many illegally attempt to access benefits using forged identities, causing disadvantages for legitimate residents. The pressure is even higher in fast-growing cities like Lucknow, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Varanasi, where population density and demand for public services are already high. At the same time, the government claims the verification process will be carried out fairly and transparently. Authorities say no lawful resident will be troubled and that checks will follow due process. The focus, they explain, is only on identifying individuals who are staying or working without proper documentation. As the new directives roll out across all divisions, officials expect the crackdown to intensify in the coming days. For now, municipal bodies, district administrations, and police units have been told to work together and ensure that identification and verification move swiftly, marking one of the largest coordinated actions against illegal immigration in the state in recent years. UP Orders Major Crackdown: CM Yogi Tells Officials to List Rohingya, Bangladeshi Workers and Set Up Detention Centres Across All Divisions The Uttar Pradesh government has kicked off a major crackdown to identify and take action against illegal immigrants living in the state. CM Yogi Adityanath has directed all 17 municipal corporations to prepare lists of Rohingya and Bangladeshi workers, especially those working in sanitation jobs, whether hired directly or through contractors. These lists will be shared with Divisional Commissioners and IGs so that verification and further steps can begin immediately. Along with this, the CM has ordered every division in UP to set up detention centres. This adds to an earlier instruction given to district magistrates to create temporary detention facilities and take strict legal action against anyone living in the state without proper documents. Officials say these moves are meant to speed up the process of identifying, verifying, and eventually deporting people who are staying illegally. Authorities believe many illegal migrants take up cleaning and sanitation work, making municipal bodies an important starting point for tracking them. Once the lists are ready, teams will work to locate these individuals, check their documents, and move those found to be illegal into detention centres until the deportation process is completed. The government says illegal immigration affects welfare schemes, jobs, and resources meant for genuine residents. With UP sharing borders with eight states, one Union Territory, and Nepal, officials claim the pressure of infiltration has increased over the years. Past data shared in Parliament suggested that lakhs of Rohingya and millions of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants could be living in India. The state says the entire process will be done fairly, with no trouble for legal residents. For now, the crackdown is expected to intensify as municipal bodies, police, and district officials work together in the coming days.