The city police on Wednesday (February 25, 2025) launched a special drive to identify foreign nationals allegedly residing illegally within Bengaluru limits, questioning over 2,000 individuals in a single day as part of the operation.
The verification exercise is being carried out under the directions of Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh. Police teams from various divisions have been deployed across different parts of the city to verify visa status, Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) registration and other relevant documents of foreign nationals.
According to police sources, more than 2,000 foreign nationals were examined on February 25 alone. A significant number were found either without valid documentation or overstaying their visas.
Officials said information had been received about some migrants from Nigeria and Bangladesh allegedly residing in the city without proper authorisation. Legal action is being initiated against those found violating immigration norms, they said.
Authorities are compiling detailed data, including the country of origin, date of entry into India, purpose of visit, visa and passport validity, and details of local contacts or sponsors. The drive is aimed at ensuring law and order and maintaining proper documentation of foreign residents in the city. Police indicated that assistance from central agencies would be sought if required.
Previous crackdowns
In January 2026, police conducted raids in the Electronics City and Hebbagodi areas, during which over 26 Bangladeshi nationals were detained for illegal stay. They were allegedly working in scrapyards using forged Aadhaar cards and other identity documents.
In November 2025, the CCB police arrested 14 foreign nationals in a separate operation and seized narcotic substances worth ₹7.7 crore from them. Among those arrested was a Nigerian woman who had allegedly overstayed her visa and was reportedly involved in drug trafficking.
Drive launched to verify foreign nationals
Under the guidance of the Bengaluru City Commissioner of Police, a special drive is being conducted across all police station limits to verify the credentials of foreign nationals residing in the city. All Deputy Commissioners of Police and station-level personnel have been deployed for the exercise.
Teams are systematically verifying visa status, FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office) registration, and other relevant documents through live monitoring and field-level inspections to ensure that no inconvenience is caused to the public. House owners have been mandated to furnish details of foreign nationals staying on their premises, including valid visa and FRRO information, to their jurisdictional police stations.
House owners have been mandated to furnish details of foreign nationals staying on their premises, including valid visa and FRRO information, to their jurisdictional police stations.
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Special arrangement
Officials said foreign nationals found overstaying their visas or residing without proper documentation are being identified, and legal action is being initiated against them. Deportation proceedings will also be undertaken wherever necessary. Authorities are additionally verifying the background of foreign nationals suspected to be involved in illegal activities.
Police stated that the drive is aimed at maintaining law and order in the city and sought cooperation from citizens. Residents and property owners have been urged to share information regarding any suspicious foreign nationals with the nearest police station. The operation will continue in the coming days, officials said.
Migrant worker detained during drive, released later
Meanwhile, a 31-year-old migrant labourer from Nadia district in West Bengal was detained by Tilak Nagar police after being suspected of being a Bangladeshi national.
Police picked up Mohammed Sheikh and questioned him for nearly 10 hours before confirming that he is an Indian citizen. He was released after his identity was verified, reportedly following communication from the West Bengal Chief Minister’s Office. According to police sources, Sheikh’s mobile phone was seized and examined as part of the verification process. Officers also scrutinised documents he had previously submitted.
Speaking to The Hindu, Sheikh said he has been living in Bengaluru since 2009 with his wife and three children and works in the construction sector. “Police came on Wednesday (February 25, 2026) and took me away, accusing me of being a Bangladeshi national. I tried to explain that I am from West Bengal and that I have been helping police and NGOs identify illegal Bangladeshi immigrants staying in the city, but they did not listen,” he said.
Sheikh added that he was detained at the Tilak Nagar police station for about 10 hours while officers analysed his phone records and documents. “The police behaved politely. They asked me if I needed food and arranged Iftar after I told them I was fasting,” he said.
Sheikh claimed that through his work in the construction field, he is able to identify Bangladeshi nationals based on their dialect and interactions. He said he had shared information with authorities about suspected illegal immigrants, many of whom, according to him, are employed in garbage collection and segregation work for the GBA. Police have not issued an official statement on the incident. The verification drive continues across the city.
Published – February 26, 2026 05:22 pm IST
