In the early hours of March 27, a routine police patrol near Delhi’s bustling Jahangirpuri Metro station took an unexpected turn. A group of six individuals, dressed in attire typically associated with the transgender community, caught the officers’ attention — not for any specific act, but for their demeanor, which seemed out of place.
When questioned, the group identified themselves as transgender persons. However, the officers, sensing something was off, asked them to wash their faces.
What followed was a startling revelation. Beneath the makeup, the individuals were, in fact, men allegedly disguised as transgender persons.
Further checks revealed that all six were immigrants from Bangladesh, illegally living in the national capital. Police arrested them.
The operation is part of a larger crackdown against Bangladeshi nationals, residing illegally in the national capital, that was initiated in December 2024.
The six arrested men — Mohammad Zikra Moina Khan (24); Suhana Khan alias Saurabh (21); Akhi Sarkar (22); Md. Baoijed Khan alias Pakhi (24); Mohammad Rana alias Lobely (26); and Johny Hussain alias Jimmy (20) — had been living in Delhi for the past two years, police said.
As they investigated further, police discovered that more such groups were active in the area. In three separate raids conducted till last week, they apprehended 12 more Bangladeshi nationals from Northwest Delhi.
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According to the police, the men admitted to using makeup and padding to enhance their appearance to resemble women. At night, some engaged in sex work, police said.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest) Bhisham Singh stated that these men were handed over to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) for further deportation proceedings.
What the probe found
As they made several arrests over the past few weeks, police discovered that the accused were operating as part of a larger syndicate. So, they decided to launch an intensive investigation to dismantle the network.
A team, led by Inspector Vipin Kumar (Foreigners Cell), under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner of Police Ranjeet Dhaka, was formed to carry out the operation.
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The officers activated their local intelligence and technical networks, conducted multiple raids across Northwest Delhi, and nabbed more illegal immigrants.
These men, police said, mostly operated around Azadpur Mandi — Delhi’s largest vegetable market — and beneath the Jahangirpuri Metro station. These locations are typically crowded and see a high daily footfall of outsiders.
Police said they disguised themselves as transgender individuals and forced commuters to give them money by threatening them with a ‘curse’ — it is a commonly held belief that a curse from a transgender person can bring misfortune.
Police said all the accused had fake Aadhaar cards but lacked voter IDs. The ‘gender’ section on their Aadhaar cards listed them as ‘Transgender’, and instead of ‘Son of’, the documents used ‘Care of’, officers added.
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During questioning, police said they admitted to illegally entering India through porous borders with the help of agents and traveling to Delhi by train. They further disclosed that they adopted disguises — beggars or transgenders — and, in some cases, underwent minor surgeries and hormone injections to alter their appearance and sex to evade detection.
Police said begging has been banned in Bangladesh since 2009, and the arrested men believed it was easier to earn money in India this way.
Police also inspected their mobile phones and found the banned IMO app — a secure international video call and instant messaging app — was installed.
In 2023, IMO, along with 13 other mobile applications, was banned in India after central agencies found it was being used by terrorist organisations.
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Police said the accused were using this app to communicate with their families in Bangladesh because WhatsApp has been banned in their country since August 2024.
An officer stated that they will be writing to the government to inform it about the accessibility of the IMO app despite it being banned.
They are still on the lookout for the mastermind — Muskan alias Jadoo, also from Bangladesh. Police suspect he has been bringing people from his country and facilitating their involvement in begging and sex work.
Police know Muskan lives in Northwest Delhi and has a fake Aadhaar card. They also know he’s been staying in India for the past six years. He remains on the run but will be nabbed soon, they added.
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Recent arrests
March 27: Six arrested near Jahangirpuri Metro station
April 7: Five arrested near Jahangirpuri Metro station
May 3: Four arrested near Azadpur Subzi Mandi
May 8: Three arrested near Azadpur Subzi Mandi