More than 2,000 alleged illegal Bangladeshi immigrants have been “pushed back” across the India-Bangladesh border since the launch of Operation Sindoor in the early hours of May 7, according to government sources cited by The Indian Express.

The operation followed a nationwide verification drive and has been marked by a coordinated crackdown on undocumented immigrants across several states.

Government officials revealed that alongside those forced out, a comparable number of immigrants have voluntarily appeared near the India-Bangladesh border, seeking to cross over amid growing fear of detention.

The crackdown is being carried out primarily along the border areas of Tripura, Meghalaya, and Assam, with Gujarat accounting for nearly half of all those deported so far. Delhi and Haryana have also seen significant deportations, while Assam, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan have contributed to the numbers as well.

A senior government official noted that the operation accelerated after the April terror attack in Pahalgam.

“It is an ongoing process and all states which have cities with significant economic activity are rounding up such illegal immigrants after verification of their documents. A focused effort began in this direction following the Pahalgam attacks in April. Since Operation Sindoor, it has picked up pace. Gujarat was the first off the blocks followed by Delhi and Haryana. More states will begin sending soon. The instructions from the Ministry of Home Affairs are clear in this regard and the states, too, are cooperating,” the official told the newspaper.

As part of the operation, those identified as undocumented immigrants are being transported to the border regions via Indian Air Force aircraft and handed over to the Border Security Force (BSF). Held in temporary border camps, they are provided food and, if needed, small amounts of Bangladeshi currency before being sent across the border after brief detention.

While operations are currently concentrated in BJP-ruled states like Tripura and Assam, security officials dismissed the notion of political bias in the selection of locations.

“There is a perception that these states have been chosen because they are BJP-ruled. But that is not true. BJP is a small minority in Meghalaya. These states were chosen because of the ease in pushing back from these states,” one official told The Indian Express.

“In West Bengal, because of the nature of the border, which often passes through the middle of villages or even houses, and the familial connections on either side, there was fear of law and order issues cropping up,” the official added.

Officials say nearly 2,000 individuals have voluntarily approached the border to leave the country, driven by media reports and fears of arrest.

So far, the operation has proceeded without major resistance, with the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) reportedly cooperating with Indian forces. However, concerns remain over potential diplomatic tension if the weekly numbers grow to 10,000 or more.