160 Bangladeshi nationals deported from Bengaluru after legal formalities

As many as 160 Bangladeshi nationals staying illegally in Bengaluru and neighbouring districts were deported to Bangladesh after completion of legal formalities, police said on Thursday.

The deportation was carried out on Wednesday in a joint operation by Bengaluru Police and the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO).

Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said the deportees were flown out of Bengaluru on a special flight after coordination with the Indian Air Force. The FRRO coordinated with the Border Security Force (BSF), he said.

Police said the individuals were detained from Bellandur, Begur, Varthur, Bande Palya and Marathahalli in Bengaluru. Seven others were detained from Chikkamagaluru and Gadag districts.

The deportees were flown from Bengaluru to the national border and handed over to the BSF, officials said.

A police officer said the action followed repeated complaints about Bangladeshi nationals allegedly staying illegally in Karnataka, particularly in parts of Bengaluru.

Police conducted verification drives at various locations, including sheds and camps, to identify foreign nationals without valid documents. Those found without valid documents were sent to detention centres before being deported after completion of the required legal procedures, the officer said.

Police said measures were also being taken to prevent those deported from re-entering India illegally.

The Electronic City division police had recently deported 31 Bangladeshi nationals through Kolkata, officials said.