Karnataka police have identified 771 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in three years: Home Department

The Karnataka Home Department’s data shows that the State police have identified 771 Bangladeshi immigrants illegally residing across the State in the last three years, of whom 572 have been deported and 57 are currently under arrest.

Home Minister Priyank Kharge presented the data in response to a question raised by Aravind Bellad, Hubballi-Dharwad West MLA. The data shows that of the 771 identified, 656 were found to be living in Bengaluru city and 44 in Bengaluru district. The Mangaluru police have identified 23 alleged illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, while 12 have been found in Kolar.

Mr. Kharge’s response noted that the police are using the District Police Module and Foreigners Identification Portal to identify and detain illegal Bangladeshi migrants and initiate the process of deporting them. He further stressed that a special task force has also been formed for the same.

“In Bengaluru, Deputy Commissioners of Police have been tasked to monitor the operation launched for the purpose under the title ‘Operation Mukta’. Special drives have also been launched to identify illegal Bangladeshi migrants,” the response noted. “Most of the identified Bangladeshi immigrants were working as rag-pickers. We are also keeping vigil and conducting investigations into individuals hiring such illegal immigrants,” the response added.

Recently, the Bengaluru City police launched a special drive in the Whitefield division and identified 105 suspected illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. He also noted that four cases have been booked against individuals involved in either spreading fake news about Bangladeshi nationals or assaulting them. Of the four cases, three were against Hindutva activist Puneeth Kerehalli and another accused, identified as Nagendrappa Shiruru. Recently, the Bengaluru City police booked Shiruru for allegedly intercepting a suspected Bangladeshi national and his wife and assaulting them.