Video of police using ‘device’ to check citizenship in Ghaziabad slum triggers outrage
Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh): A video purportedly showing police personnel using a mobile phone–like device to “verify citizenship” of slum residents during a drive against illegal migrants has gone viral on social media, raising serious questions about police conduct and the legality of such checks.
The incident reportedly occurred on December 23 in the Bhowapur slum area of Kaushambi. As part of a verification exercise, Ghaziabad police, accompanied by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, were seen checking identity documents of local residents, including Aadhaar cards, voter ID cards and passports. The video also shows policemen repeatedly questioning residents about their place of origin.
In one clip, Kaushambi police station SHO Ajay Sharma is seen examining the identity documents of a man and asking him where he is from. When the man replies that he is from Bihar, the officer allegedly asks whether he is from Bihar or Bangladesh. The exchange has drawn sharp criticism online, with many calling it discriminatory and intimidating.
The video further shows the officer telling a colleague to bring a “machine” to identify a person’s origin. Moments later, a mobile phone–like device is placed against the man’s back, following which the officer is heard saying that the device indicates the man is from Bangladesh. Local residents then intervene, insisting that the person is from Bihar.
The footage has sparked widespread outrage on social media, with users questioning whether any such device capable of determining citizenship even exists. Many have alleged that the exercise amounted to harassment under the guise of citizenship verification, particularly targeting economically weaker sections living in informal settlements.
Civil rights activists and legal experts have also raised concerns, pointing out that citizenship cannot be determined through any electronic device and that such claims undermine due process and constitutional safeguards. Critics have accused the police of creating fear among marginalised communities by using unscientific and misleading methods.
Following the backlash, the Ghaziabad Police Commissioner issued a clarification, stating that the exercise was part of a routine crime control process. According to the police, suspicious individuals are being questioned and verified as part of preventive measures, and no illegal methods are being officially employed to determine citizenship.
However, the clarification has done little to quell public anger, with many demanding accountability and clear guidelines to ensure that identity verification drives do not violate individual rights or dignity. The incident has once again brought the spotlight on policing practices during migrant verification drives and the need for strict adherence to the law.
