15 Bangladeshi Nationals Arrested in Electronics City Division Police Drive

Bengaluru police arrested 15 Bangladeshi nationals residing illegally during a special early-morning verification drive across 29 locations in the Electronics City Division on Saturday.

A total of 23 special police teams comprising 295 police officers and personnel actively participated in the large-scale joint search operation. Simultaneous searches were conducted across different police station limits within the division, specifically targeting construction sites, sheds, and suspected hideouts.

During the verification drive, police officers took 1,909 suspected individuals into custody who were found without proper documents or under suspicious circumstances. Out of the total individuals questioned across the division, 15 Bangladeshi nationals were arrested.

The operation yielded arrests in specific police station limits. In the Begur Police Station limits, four police teams conducted searches across four locations and verified 339 individuals, leading to eight Bangladeshi nationals being taken into custody.

In the Parappana Agrahara Police Station limits, four police teams conducted searches at four locations and questioned 355 individuals. Seven Bangladeshi nationals who were residing illegally were taken into custody during these searches.

Officers also conducted searches at 21 locations falling under the limits of the Electronics City, Bandepalya, Hulimavu, and Hebbagodi police stations. However, no illegal foreign nationals were found in these police station jurisdictions.

Meanwhile, civil rights groups raised concerns regarding the conduct of the police operation. On Saturday, a few civil rights groups filed a complaint with the State Home Minister, the State Police Chief, and the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner.

The complaint accused the police of illegal detention, assault, and inhuman treatment of hundreds of migrant workers, including women and children, during the special verification drive.