Written by Neetika JhaGhaziabad | January 4, 2026 07:15 AM IST 3 min readDays after a purported video from Ghaziabad showing a police officer allegedly intimidating residents of a slum cluster with a false claim of owning a machine to verify if they were illegal immigrants from Bangladesh was widely shared on social media, the police on Saturday said that no formal orders were issued for any sort of document verification.0Speaking with The Indian Express, Patil Nimish Dasharath, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Trans-Hindon, said that a warning was issued to Station House Officer Ajay Kumar Sharma, who was seen in the clip, and an investigation over his alleged conduct had been initiated.“It was an area domination exercise where the police was asked to ensure its presence in the area. We had not issued any direction for the verification of the document,” the DCP said.According to officers, on December 23, two police officers, including Ajay Kumar Sharma, SHO of Kaushambi police station in Ghaziabad district, reached a slum cluster near Vaishali’s Bihari Market as part of the drive. Sharma then allegedly intimidated residents by claiming to have a device that would determine their nationality and also tell if they were lying.On Saturday, when The Indian Express visited the slum cluster, Roshni Khatun (25), a woman seen in the video,said that the police officers had also entered some of the jhuggis “on account of inspection”. “There are nearly 25 to 30 people in the slum cluster. All of us are Muslims and are residents of Bihar’s Araria district and are here for work,” she said.Roshni also said while she was inside her room, some officers knocked at her door and asked for her Aadhaar card. “I went inside and brought my phone that had my Aadhaar. They then asked me to show it to a policeman who was recording it,” she said.“Woh bolein ki koi machine hai unke pas, jisse pata chal jayega ki hum log Bangladesh ke hai ya nhi. Hum log kyun darte jab hum log Bihari hain toh (They said they have a machine that can determine whether we are from Bangladesh or not). Why should we be afraid when we are Bihari?,” she said.Story continues below this adMeanwhile, according to Sharma, he was using a “psychological trick” that he used on them. “Last year, we had arrested five people from the same slum cluster who were from Bangladesh. We use this trick while questioning the accused in the police custody so I thought it will work on them too,” said Sharma.In the clip, Sharma can be heard asking a resident, “Bangladesh k toh nahi ho (Are you from Bangladesh?),” as he holds an identity card in his hand. He then could be seen tapping a device on the man.When the man said he is from Araria, the officer refutes, saying, “Bangladesh.” But the man repeats that he hails from Bihar.Neetika Jha is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in the Noida bureau. She primarily covers crime, health, and environmental issues, as well as human-interest features across Noida, Ghaziabad, and Western Uttar Pradesh. Professional Profile Education: She is an alumna of the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai. Core Beat: Her work focuses on the administrative and social challenges of the NCR's satellite cities. She is known for her detailed reporting on civic infrastructure (like the Noida International Airport), environmental violations, and high-profile criminal investigations. Personal Interests: Outside of reporting, she is an avid reader of fiction (citing The Thursday Murder Club and Yellowface as recent favorites) and a gardening enthusiast. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Neetika’s recent reportage has been dominated by winter-related crises in the NCR and significant criminal legalities: 1. Environment & Public Safety "Greater Noida Authority slaps fines on firms for violating GRAP IV norms" (Dec 21, 2025): Reporting on heavy penalties imposed on major developers like NBCC for flouting anti-pollution construction bans. "Fatal pile-up on Yamuna Expressway: Fog, high speed emerge as key safety risks" (Dec 17, 2025): A major report on a 15-vehicle collision caused by dense fog that killed 17 people. "At Chilla, Kalindi, DND, many fined Rs 20,000 for non-compliance to Delhi's BS-VI rule" (Dec 19, 2025): On-the-ground reporting from the borders where Noida police penalize non-compliant vehicles entering the capital. "Driving in Noida amid fog? New speed limits in effect till Feb 15" (Dec 13, 2025): Detailing the seasonal traffic restrictions aimed at preventing highway accidents. 2. Crime & Legal Developments "'Have you ever heard of a murder case being withdrawn?': Court in Akhlaq lynching case" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering a critical courtroom hearing where the court questioned the UP government's petition to withdraw charges against the accused. "After losing money in stock market, bank employee in Ghaziabad withdraws Rs 64 lakh from customers' accounts" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative piece on internal bank fraud and the risks of modern digital embezzlement. "Woman shot dead by partner in Noida: Three days on, accused still on the run" (Dec 2, 2025): Tracking a high-profile domestic violence and murder case in Central Noida. 3. Human Interest & Features "'Had tears in my eyes': Army men walk bride down the aisle 20 years after father died in terror attack" (Dec 2, 2025): A moving story about soldiers from a Punjab Grenadiers unit fulfilling a father's duty for his daughter. "How a Zepto delivery man heard a cry — and saved two kids dumped in Noida drain" (Dec 2025): A viral human-interest story highlighting individual heroism in the city. Signature Style Neetika is recognized for her meticulous follow-up on local tragedies. Whether it is a massive pile-up on the Yamuna Expressway or the ongoing construction of the Jewar (Noida) Airport, she focuses on systemic lapses and the safety of commuters. Her crime reporting often explores the psychological motives behind "crimes of passion" and the rising trend of financial cyber-fraud in the Ghaziabad-Noida belt. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd