Ghaziabad Police Face Scrutiny After Officer Seen Using ‘Nationality-Testing’ Device; Probe Launched

Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh — Uttar Pradesh Police have ordered a departmental inquiry after a video circulated online showing a police officer in Ghaziabad allegedly using a handheld device to question a man’s nationality and suggesting he was a citizen of Bangladesh. The incident has sparked debate over policing methods, citizens’ rights, and the limits of security checks in urban India.

The clip, widely shared on social media, features a police officer stopping an elderly man during a security check and appearing to rely on an electronic device to assess his nationality. In the footage, the officer is heard implying that the man may be from Bangladesh, despite objections from the family and their claims of Indian citizenship.

Senior police officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the officer seen in the video is the station house officer (SHO) of Kaushambi police station. Authorities have not officially named him, citing the ongoing inquiry.

Police Response and Official Position

Responding to public criticism, the Ghaziabad Police stated that the interaction occurred during a routine “area domination exercise” conducted ahead of the Christmas and New Year period. Such exercises typically involve heightened police visibility in crowded or sensitive locations to deter crime, maintain public order, and collect local intelligence.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Trans-Hindon) Patil said in a statement that once the video surfaced, senior officers took cognisance of the matter and ordered an internal probe. The inquiry has been entrusted to the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) of the Indirapuram circle, who will examine whether established procedures and legal norms were followed.

Family Alleges Intimidation

The family involved has strongly contested the officer’s actions. Mohammad Saddique, 76, the man shown in the video, said police personnel argued with his 22-year-old daughter when they questioned the purpose and credibility of the device.

According to Saddique, the family presented documents to demonstrate that they are Indian citizens originally from Bihar. He said he has lived and worked in Ghaziabad since 1987, earning his livelihood as a fish seller. The family alleges that the suggestion they were Bangladeshi amounted to harassment and intimidation.

Legal and Expert Views

Legal experts note that there is no officially sanctioned handheld device capable of determining a person’s nationality on the spot. Citizenship verification in India is governed by documentation and due process, not instant technological assessments.

Former police officials and civil liberties advocates say the incident highlights a broader challenge: balancing preventive policing with constitutional protections. While area domination exercises are a recognised policing tool, experts stress that officers must rely on lawful identification checks and avoid actions that could be perceived as profiling or coercion.