The Ghaziabad Police ordered an inquiry on Friday (January 2, 2026) after a video went viral on social media showing a police officer placing what appears to be a smartphone on the back of a man and allegedly intimidating residents of a slum by claiming the device could determine if they are illegal immigrants.
“Are you Bangladeshi? The machine shows that you are, doesn’t it?” a police officer could be heard saying while the man stressed that he was from Araria district in Bihar.
The police officer is from the Kaushambi police station. The incident, occurred during what police called as a “routine area domination exercise”.
“An inquiry has been ordered, Assistant commissioner of police (ACP) of Indirapuram circle is investigating the matter,” said the District police in a statement.
The police said the drive was not aimed to verify nationality but a standard security procedure to verify individuals in temporary settlements and area domination exercises were proactive security operations conducted by police and armed forces to maintain law and order, boost public confidence, and prevent crime. “These involve intense patrolling (foot/vehicle), route marches, and checks in sensitive or high-risk areas to establish authority and ensure a peaceful environment,” the Ghaziabad Police added.
