Bengaluru Police Detain 15 Alleged Illegal Immigrants in Citywide Drive

Bengaluru city police detained 15 people allegedly staying illegally in the city without valid visa or citizenship documents during a special drive conducted on Saturday. The drive primarily covered the eastern and southeastern parts of the city, including Whitefield.

During the operation, police teams visited over 30 places across Bengaluru and initiated a detailed verification process. Officers checked a total of 1,909 suspected persons, scrutinising their backgrounds, nationality, and identity documents, including passports and visas.

In Whitefield, Saidulu Adavath, Deputy Commissioner of Police, stated that police teams visited nearly 30 locations within his jurisdiction as part of the special drive.

Police reported that the 15 detainees were allegedly from Bagerhat and Khulna in Bangladesh. Authorities confirmed that further legal action would be initiated against all 15 persons under applicable laws. Their verified documents are currently being submitted to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) to facilitate deportation procedures.

Speaking about the ongoing crackdown, Home Minister Priyank Kharge stated that over 1,000 illegal immigrants had been found in the last three months. He noted that a dedicated team would be formed for the purpose if needed. Kharge further explained that the state does not share an international border with other countries and that illegal entry is taking place through northern states with porous borders. He added that the state government is currently in touch with the Border Security Force.

However, rights groups have strongly opposed the police drive. The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), the All India Lawyers Association for Justice (AILAJ), and other organisations wrote to the Karnataka Director General of Police and Home Minister Kharge, stating that the police action is "illegal and constitutionally impermissible."

In a joint statement, the unions noted that police conducted verifications, checked documents, seized several people’s phones, and inspected their private messages and call logs. The rights groups argued that the presence of a foreign number on a phone does not prove or even create a prima facie case to presume foreign citizenship, demanding the immediate release of those detained.