The Verification Drive That Shattered the Lives of Bengali Muslims in Gurugram
In July 2025, a police verification drive was launched to target alleged undocumented immigrants in Gurugram, which resulted in the departure of hundreds of Bengali-speaking migrant families and triggered a political controversy, including opposition leaders slamming the Haryana government for communal bias. The drive reportedly led to 300-400 families vacating their shanties due to fears of detention and harassment. Many Bengali Muslims said that they are being labeled as “Bangladeshi infiltrators” or “Rohingyas” despite possessing valid Indian identity documents, such as voter IDs and Aadhaar cards. While some families were compelled to leave the areas, others faced incarceration. The male members of the family and their sole breadwinners were sent behind bars. The incarceration followed another blow: the fall of financial stability. The struggle in meeting the ends. As the time passed, their struggles intensified, waiting for relief.
The Hardship that Occured:
When the Miles2Smile team visited the camp where more than thirty such families live, the organisation found not just homes built of bamboo and tarpaulin, but lives scarred by constant displacement. Families spoke of being forced to move from one settlement to another, sometimes in the middle of the night, carrying whatever little they could. The camp was filled with stories of men, fathers, sons, and brothers detained without cause. As per these households, the arrests are not just moments of fear but ruptures that tear through their financial and emotional security. Another hardship that unfolded at the camp was the absence of electricity. Bills had mounted, unpaid because survival had to come first: food before light, medicine before comfort. When the Miles2Smile team walked through the lanes of the settlement, they noticed homes dark even in the afternoon, fans hanging motionless in the heat. Families explained how, without electricity, evenings turned into stretches of helplessness. Mothers cooked by candlelight, children struggled to study, and the community felt the isolation that comes with literal darkness.
The Relief that Followed:
The Miles2Smile team decided to act. With the help of our donors, we were able to:
Clear the Outstanding Electricity Bill
Miles2Smile clears the pending electricity dues for the families living in the camp. The unpaid bills had accumulated over months, as households were forced to prioritize food, rent, and medical expenses over utilities. With lights back on, families could cook safely, children could study after sunset, and the fear of living in perpetual darkness was lifted.
Provide Ration
Miles2Smile distributed essential ration kits to families in the camp who had been pushed into food shortage following repeated detentions and loss of daily wages. With primary earners missing or unable to work due to fear of harassment, many households had been surviving on irregular meals. The ration kits ensured immediate access to food items, reducing hunger and offering families the stability of knowing that their next meal was secured.
Provide Relief
The support eased immediate pressures on households already stretched to their limits. By clearing electricity arrears and providing essential food supplies, families were able to redirect resources towards other needs. As bulbs flickered to life and fans began to spin again, the settlement exhaled a sigh of relief.
The table shows our relief work in numbers in Gurugram for Bengali Muslim families.