Bengaluru police launch "Operation Mukta" to identify illegal immigrants
The Bengaluru City Police on Saturday, Aug 8 launched a special drive, dubbed "Operation Mukta", to identify suspected illegal immigrants residing in various parts of the city, with searches conducted at more than 30 locations in the Whitefield division and several places in the Electronic City area.
Whitefield DCP Saidulla Adavath said the drive was being carried out on the directions of the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner and involved more than 500 police personnel in the Whitefield division.
"As per the directions of the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner, a special drive is being conducted across the city. In the Whitefield Division alone, more than 500 staff and officers are involved in the exercise. This is actually a continuous and regular exercise," he said.
Verification is being carried out at more than 30 locations falling under all police station limits, the officer said. "If we find anyone suspicious, we will verify their documents and check their background," Adavath said.
Police sources said searches were conducted in Whitefield, Varthur, Kadugodi, Balagere Road, Bellandur, Marathahalli, Mahadevapura and Electronic City, including Hebbagodi. Around 30 locations under six police station limits in Whitefield and another 15 to 20 locations in Electronic City were searched.
Police said about 40 suspicious people were taken into custody for verification in the Whitefield division, while four were identified as Bangladeshi nationals based on documents recovered from them. Verification of others is continuing.
"If we find an identity card or any other document indicating that they are from another country, we will write to the FRRO. Once we obtain the deportation order, we will follow the legal procedure and deport them to their respective countries," the DCP said.
Police sources said residents of the sheds were being asked to produce identity and citizenship documents, including Aadhaar cards and voter IDs. Those unable to provide documents, or found suspicious, were taken to police stations for further questioning.
The searches also covered makeshift settlements where people from Bangladesh, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar and Nepal were found residing. Police said Indian citizens would be allowed to remain after verification, while foreign nationals found staying illegally would be produced before the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) for further legal action.
At one location, police found around 150 sheds, while another settlement had more than 100.
Police sources said the sheds were allegedly being rented out for Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 each, and the role of landowners and others facilitating such accommodation was also being examined.
Asked about landowners, Adavath said, "We will look into that as well. As you know, in many places, local people construct these sheds and provide them on rent. There are people working as construction labourers here, including those who have come from different states and different districts within Karnataka. Such construction labourers stay in these sheds."
According to police sources, several of those found in the settlements appeared to be working as construction labourers, domestic help, drivers and delivery personnel.
The drive was part of a continuing exercise to identify illegal immigrants and initiate deportation proceedings wherever required.
The Karnataka High Court recently pulled up the city police for registering a case against a doctor who had identified a Bangladeshi residing illegally in Bengaluru. Police had booked the doctor-activist on the complaint of the illegal migrant, but the High Court stayed further investigation in the criminal cases against him.
Justice M Nagaprasanna, who heard the case, questioned the police action and observed that the system should not support illegal immigration by prosecuting those who report it.
