Bengaluru police send Bangladeshi nationals to Malda for deportation
Bengaluru: Thirty-one Bangladeshi nationals identified as allegedly staying illegally in Bengaluru have been sent to Malda in West Bengal as part of the deportation process following the city police’s special ‘Operation Muktha’ drive.
The individuals, who were detained during the operation in the Electronic City police division, were transported from Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT) railway station in Bengaluru in a special coach arranged for them. A team of 20 police personnel accompanied the group as a security escort.
Electronic City Deputy Commissioner of Police M Narayan said the group was being sent to Malda as the next step in the deportation process. “The 31 Bangladeshi nationals have been sent to Malda from SMVT railway station for further deportation proceedings. A team of 20 police personnel is accompanying them as an escort. After reaching Malda, the necessary legal procedures will be completed before they are handed over to the appropriate border authorities,” he said.
The police team and the detained individuals were expected to reach Malda on Tuesday evening. Following the completion of formalities there, the individuals will be handed over through the appropriate authorities for their eventual deportation to Bangladesh.
The development comes after Bengaluru Police launched ‘Operation Muktha’ on August 9 to identify foreign nationals allegedly residing illegally in the city. The special verification drive was conducted in the Whitefield and Electronic City police divisions.
During the operation, police teams checked the documents of 2,944 people suspected of being foreign nationals. The verification resulted in the identification of 105 Bangladeshi nationals who were allegedly staying in Bengaluru without valid documentation.
The Electronic City division carried out an extensive verification exercise as part of the operation. As many as 23 special police teams were deployed across the division and checked the documents and details of 1,909 individuals.
During the verification, police identified 43 Bangladeshi nationals whose immigration status required further examination. Their details were compiled and submitted to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) along with the relevant reports for further legal action.
The FRRO subsequently examined the information submitted by the police. Based on the information and directions received from the agency, the process of deporting 31 of the identified individuals was initiated.
The police said the transfer to Malda was not the final stage of deportation but part of the procedure required before the individuals could be handed over for movement across the international border. The necessary documentation and legal formalities are expected to be completed before the handover.
Malda, located close to the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal, is an important transit point for such procedures. The individuals will be processed by the concerned authorities before being handed over through the prescribed mechanism.
The police operation has also highlighted the efforts being made by Bengaluru authorities to identify foreign nationals whose documents and immigration status require verification. Police teams have been conducting document checks to establish nationality, identity and the legality of residence.
Officials said the verification process was carried out based on available records and documents. Individuals found requiring further scrutiny were referred to the appropriate authorities instead of being immediately deported.
The identification of 105 Bangladeshi nationals during the citywide exercise has prompted further examination of their individual cases. While 31 have now entered the deportation process, the status of the remaining individuals will depend on the outcome of legal and administrative verification.
The police have maintained that deportation proceedings have to follow the prescribed legal process and involve coordination with central agencies and authorities responsible for immigration and border management.
The ‘Operation Muktha’ drive was aimed at identifying foreign nationals allegedly living in Bengaluru without valid documents. The exercise covered areas falling under the Whitefield and Electronic City divisions, which have witnessed rapid population growth and a large migrant workforce.
The Electronic City division alone accounted for 43 of the 105 Bangladeshi nationals identified during the operation. The deployment of 23 special teams enabled police to conduct verification across several police station limits.
Police officials said the information gathered during the operation was forwarded to the FRRO for appropriate action. The latest movement of the 31 individuals to Malda follows that verification process. The development is likely to increase scrutiny of documentation among foreign nationals residing in Bengaluru. Police are expected to continue verification drives wherever there are complaints or information regarding suspected illegal immigration.
Authorities have also emphasised that the identification and deportation of foreign nationals are subject to legal procedures and verification by the competent agencies. For the 31 individuals sent to Malda, the next stage will involve completion of the required formalities before they are handed over for deportation. The police escort accompanying them is expected to remain with the group until the transfer process is completed.
The Bengaluru Police operation comes amid increased attention on illegal immigration and the presence of undocumented foreign nationals in major cities. Bengaluru, being a major employment and technology hub, attracts a large migrant population from across the country and abroad, making verification of identity and immigration documents an important law-enforcement exercise.
Police officials said further action would be taken based on the findings of the verification process and directions from the competent authorities. The cases of the other individuals identified during ‘Operation Muktha’ are also expected to be dealt, as per the legal provisions.
