Mumbai: The Mumbai Police have detained around 450 Bangladeshi nationals since January 1 as part of an ongoing crackdown on illegal immigration and related activities across the city. Of these, approximately 224 individuals have already been deported, while several others remain in custody or detention centres pending legal clearance.

Among the recent cases, the Versova Police detained 23 individuals allegedly involved in begging at traffic signals and religious sites. Police sources said these individuals were residing in rented accommodations in Malwani, Malad.

The action began on February 5, when an Anti-Trafficking Cell (ATC) team led by Senior Inspector Deepshikha Ware and PSI Sachin Ugle conducted a crackdown near Versova Dargah, detaining 18 individuals. Based on further interrogation, five more were picked up on February 18. In total, Versova police have detained 27 Bangladeshi nationals this year, of whom 26 have been deported.

The drive follows similar action last year, when 1,061 Bangladeshi nationals were detained for residing illegally in Mumbai.

Police station-wise data till March 27 shows that detainees awaiting deportation are spread across multiple jurisdictions. The highest numbers were reported in Kurla (11), Bandra (10), Deonar (7), and Powai (6). Several other police stations, including Amboli, Nagpada, Oshiwara, and Park Site, reported five detainees each, while areas such as Santacruz, Byculla, Trombay and Shivaji Park recorded four each.

Additional cases were reported across localities including Dadar, Wadala, Sakinaka, Colaba, Chembur, Ghatkopar, Govandi, Malwani and Malabar Hill, among others, indicating the widespread nature of the crackdown.

The deportation process has been carried out in phases. On March 27, a total of 51 individuals were deported, including 20 from Mumbai. On March 29, 44 deportations from Mumbai were scheduled, but six were stayed by the Bombay High Court. On April 5, another batch of 50 individuals from Mumbai and five from Navi Mumbai were deported.

However, several deportations have been delayed due to judicial intervention. In one case registered at Amboli police station, three detainees filed a writ petition, leading the High Court to stay their deportation until further hearings. Similarly, the deportation of a woman in the Antop Hill case has been deferred for a month.

In another instance linked to Chunabhatti, deportation has been stayed until the next hearing date. In the Versova case, a sessions court has stayed the sentence, with the next hearing scheduled for May 21, 2026.

Authorities said the drive will continue, with a focus on identifying illegal residents and ensuring due legal process in each case.

Mumbai: In a move aimed at bringing greater transparency and regulation to street vending, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will issue QR codes to 10,500 licensed hawkers across the city by the end of April 2026. The initiative is expected to help citizens easily differentiate between authorised and unauthorised vendors.

Each licensed hawker will be provided with a unique QR code containing details of their licence and other relevant documents issued by the civic body. Hawkers will be required to display these codes prominently at their stalls, enabling Mumbaikars to scan and verify their authenticity in real time.

This news comes in after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) announced the issuance of QR code-based certificates to authorised hawkers as part of its 2026 Budget. The civic body mentioned that the initiative is expected to bring greater transparency and accountability to Mumbai’s street vending ecosystem.

The QR-coded certificates will help distinguish licensed hawkers from unauthorised ones, thereby curbing illegal encroachments. The civic body has been undertaking demolition drives across key areas to keep major roads, narrow footpaths, spaces beneath flyovers, and areas surrounding hospitals, schools and railway stations free from obstructions. Several stretches have also been designated as “vendor-free zones” due to recurring traffic congestion, pedestrian safety concerns and accident risks caused by unauthorised stalls.

The move is not only aimed at enforcement but also at creating safer and more accessible public spaces for citizens. By digitally verifying licences, the administration hopes to streamline regulation while protecting the rights of legitimate hawkers.

The BMC is also set to evaluate around 22,000 unlicensed hawkers who had registered with the civic body in 2014 during the formation of the Town Vending Committee (TVC). Based on this assessment, eligible vendors will be allotted designated pitches for street vending across the city.

The pitches will be finalised by the 13-member TVC, which plays a key role in regulating street vending in Mumbai. Notably, eight members of the committee were elected on March 28, 2026, following elections conducted in 2024.

Islamabad, April 11: US Vice President, J.D. Vance, arrived in Islamabad at around 11:15 A.M. (IST) on Saturday to lead the American delegation for the crucial US-Iran talks.

All eyes are on Islamabad this weekend as high-stakes negotiations between the US and Iran get underway, carrying major implications for stability in the Middle East and the global economy.

Speaking to reporters before departing from Joint Base Andrews aboard Air Force Two, Vance struck an optimistic tone about the upcoming discussions. “We’re looking forward to the negotiation. I think it’s going to be positive,” he said.

The negotiations mark the first formal engagement between Washington and Tehran in this phase, facilitated by a fragile two-week ceasefire that has temporarily reduced tensions in the region.

However, uncertainty looms large, with ongoing developments — particularly Israel’s strikes on Hezbollah and disagreements over Lebanon’s role in any potential agreement — posing risks to the process.

The US is represented by a high-level delegation that includes Vice President Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Donald Trump. The team is expected to push for a structured framework in the negotiations, with clear directives from the White House.

Reiterating the administration’s stance, Vance said, “We’re looking forward to negotiation. I think it’s going to be positive.”

He added that the US approach would depend on Iran’s intent. “As the President of the United States said, if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we’re certainly willing to extend the open hand,” Vance stated. “If they’re going to try to play us, then they’re going to find the negotiating team is not that receptive.”

He further emphasised that the delegation is entering the talks with defined guidelines. “So we’re going to try to have a positive negotiation. The President gave us some pretty clear guidelines, and we’re going to see,” he said.

On the Iranian side, the delegation will be led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.