New Delhi: In a serious breach of security at one of India’s most significant national monuments, five Bangladeshi nationals were arrested on Monday after attempting to gain unauthorized entry into the Red Fort in New Delhi. The historic fort, which has been under tight security lockdown ahead of Independence Day celebrations, is currently closed to the public from July 15 to August 15 as a precautionary measure.
According to police sources, the group of young men approached the Red Fort premises and attempted to bypass security by claiming to be Indian nationals. They produced Aadhaar cards as proof of identity, but security officials grew suspicious of their behaviour and the authenticity of their documents. Upon further investigation, the Aadhaar cards were found to be fake. The individuals were then interrogated, and their true identities as Bangladeshi nationals were uncovered.
The incident occurred despite the ongoing high alert status across the capital, particularly around important monuments and government buildings. Red Fort, from where the Prime Minister addresses the nation on Independence Day, is one of the most sensitive and heavily guarded sites during this time. Security personnel acted swiftly and detained the suspects before any damage or further escalation could occur.
The Delhi Police have registered a case against the accused under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Foreigners Act, and other applicable laws related to forgery and illegal immigration. The police are currently investigating the motives behind their attempted entry, and whether this act was part of a larger network or orchestrated plot. Intelligence agencies have also been roped in to trace any potential links to cross-border infiltration routes or illegal syndicates operating within or outside the country.
Preliminary reports suggest that the accused may have entered India illegally through the porous borders in West Bengal or Assam, using forged documentation to pass off as Indian citizens. This incident highlights the challenges faced by security agencies in controlling illegal immigration and the misuse of Indian identity documents.
Officials have stated that security has been further intensified around the Red Fort and other sensitive locations in Delhi. Multiple layers of screening, barricades, and surveillance measures are now in place to avoid any similar attempts in the coming days. Authorities are also verifying whether more individuals linked to the group are still at large.
The arrests have reignited debates about the need for stricter monitoring of illegal immigration and more rigorous document verification processes. While the current focus remains on ensuring the safety of the Red Fort ahead of August 15, the broader implications of such incidents continue to concern both security and immigration departments.