The raids were ordered by Vasai division's deputy superintendent of police Ravindra Sengaonkar and conducted by inspectors Bhalchandra Kale, P Niphade, S V Nimbhorkar and Y J Mirza of Mira Road, Bhayander, Vasai and Nalasopara police stations respectively.

Of the 182 persons arrested, 60 are men, 55 women and 67 children. The accused have been booked under Section 3 (1&2) and Section 14 of the Foreign Act, 1946, and Section 12 of the Passport Act, 1967. While the arrested men have been lodged in Thane jail, the women have been sent to Mumbai Mahila Sudhar Gruha and the children have been detained at Balsudhar Gruha, Bhiwandi.

Sengaonkar told Express Newsline that after interrogation, ``the details of the arrested suspects would be sent tothe West Bengal government and if they are not found to be Indian citizens, they will be deported. But I am sure they are all infiltrators.''

The combing operations, which began on Thursday, will continue for a few more days. A special squad has been formed for the purpose, because police want to ensure not a single Bangladeshi national is left behind in Vasai division, Sengaonkar asserted.

Many of the arrested persons claimed that they possessed ration cards and voter identity cards.

Raja Jadhav, Shiv Sena activist from Nalasopara, said: ``This is only the tip of the ice-berg. Thousands of infiltrators have sneaked into the rural areas of Thane district." This is the first major drive against Bangladeshi immigrants after the one undertaken in July this year, in which over 30 alleged Bangladeshis were deported by Mumbai police to Calcutta.