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The Bengaluru police on Saturday launched a citywide verification drive to identify foreign nationals allegedly staying illegally in the city, deploying more than 500 personnel under “Operation Mukta”. The drive covered more than 30 locations in the Whitefield division and several areas in Electronic City.
In the Whitefield division, teams led by DCP Saidulu Adavath conducted simultaneous checks in Whitefield, Varthur, Kadugodi, Balagere Road, Bellandur, Marathahalli and Mahadevapura. Police verified identity documents, passports, visas and other records of people residing in the areas.
Whitefield DCP Saidulu Adavath said the operation was being conducted across Bengaluru on the directions of the city police commissioner and was part of a continuous exercise.
“We have carried out similar operations in the past and deported foreign nationals found staying illegally. If we find anyone without valid documents, their details will be forwarded to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO). Based on the verification report, legal proceedings for deportation will be initiated,” he said.
Police sources said around 40 suspicious people were taken into custody for verification in the Whitefield division, while four were identified as Bangladeshi nationals based on documents recovered from them. Verification of the others is continuing.
“If we find an identity card or any other document indicating that they are from another country, we will write to the FRRO. Once we obtain the deportation order, we will follow the legal procedure and deport them to their respective countries,” the DCP said.
The searches also covered makeshift settlements where people from Bangladesh, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar and Nepal were found residing. Residents were asked to produce identity and citizenship documents, including Aadhaar cards and voter IDs. Those unable to provide documents or found suspicious were taken to police stations for further questioning.
At one location, police found around 150 sheds, while another settlement had more than 100 sheds. Police sources said the sheds were allegedly being rented out for around ₹2,000 to ₹3,000 each, and the role of landowners and others facilitating such accommodation was also being examined.
Asked about landowners, Adavath said, “We will look into that as well. As you know, in many places, local people construct these sheds and provide them on rent. There are people working as construction labourers here, including those who have come from different states and different districts within Karnataka. Such construction labourers stay in these sheds.”
According to police sources, several of those found in the settlements appeared to be working as construction labourers, domestic help, drivers and delivery personnel.
The DCP also warned property owners against renting premises without verifying tenants’ credentials. “Owners who provide houses or accommodation to illegal immigrants without verifying their documents will also face legal action. We have already registered 10 such cases in the Whitefield division,” he said.
The Electronic City division also reported significant findings. Police detained 1,909 suspected persons and examined their nationality and identity documents. Detailed verification of passports, visas and other records led to the detection of 15 Bangladeshi nationals allegedly staying illegally.
Of the 15, eight were detected within Begur police station limits and seven under Parappana Agrahara police station limits. They have been taken into custody for further legal proceedings.
Electronic City DCP Narayan said 23 special teams comprising 295 police officers and personnel were deployed for the operation. The teams searched 29 identified locations, including construction sites, temporary shelters and other suspected hideouts.
“We have so far identified 15 Bangladeshi nationals during the verification. An official report is being submitted to the FRRO, following which further action will be taken according to the prescribed procedure,” Narayan said.
State home minister Priyank Kharge said the Karnataka government was conducting a serious and continuous search for illegal immigrants, irrespective of their country of origin, and had already detected around 1,000 such migrants over the past three months.
“Illegal immigrants could be from Bangladesh, Africa or any other country. We are conducting a strict and serious search. There will be no compromise on this issue. Among immigrants many of them are coming from northern India,” Kharge said.
He said the state government was in regular touch with the Border Security Force (BSF) and Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) officials. “This cannot be an operation for one week and then stopped. It has to be a continuous exercise. If necessary, we will constitute a special team to monitor the situation,” he said.
Kharge pointed out that Karnataka does not share an international border with Bangladesh, Nepal or any other country. “If people from other countries are entering Karnataka despite the state having no international border, the question is where they are coming from and how they are reaching here,” he said.
He also sought greater assistance from the Centre, saying border security was primarily a Central government responsibility. “If people are travelling this far, it raises questions about the effectiveness of border and interstate checks,” he said.
The drive was part of a continuing exercise to identify illegal immigrants from different countries and initiate deportation proceedings wherever required.
The operation comes amid a recent Karnataka High Court intervention in a case involving a doctor who identified a Bangladeshi national allegedly residing illegally in Bengaluru. Police had registered a case against the doctor on the complaint of the migrant. The High Court stayed further investigation in the criminal cases registered against the doctor-activist.
Justice M Nagaprasanna, who heard the case, questioned the police action and observed that the system should not support illegal immigration by prosecuting those who report it.
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