Bengaluru Police launch Operation Mukta to track illegal immigrants

• More than 500 police personnel and officers are involved in the exercise.
• Verification is being conducted at more than 30 locations.
• More than 50 persons have been tracked during the ongoing exercise.
• The identities of four Bangladeshi nationals have been established.

Bengaluru City Police on Saturday launched a special drive, ‘Operation Mukta’, to identify suspected illegal immigrants living in different parts of the city.

The drive includes searches and document verification at more than 30 locations in the Whitefield division, as well as several places in the Electronic City area.

Whitefield DCP Saidulla Adavath said the operation was launched on the directions of the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner and involves 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.

Police teams have conducted searches and document verification in Whitefield, Kadugodi, Mahadevapura and other areas. The three localities are part of Bengaluru’s major technology corridors and are home to several multinational IT and biotechnology companies.

Sydulla Adavat, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Whitefield division, said the special drive was launched across the city on the directions of the Bengaluru Police Commissioner.

“As per the orders of the Police Commissioner, Bengaluru, the special drive has been taken up across the city, including the Whitefield DCP division. More than 500 police personnel and officers are involved in the exercise. The drive will continue,” he said.

According to the DCP, police teams have already tracked several suspected illegal immigrants, and some have been deported to their respective countries following due legal process.

“Verification is being conducted at more than 30 locations falling under various police station limits in the Whitefield division. If anyone is found suspicious, we will verify their documents. If we find identity cards of another country or any other clues indicating that they are foreign nationals residing here without authorisation, the matter will be brought to the notice of the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO),” Adavat said.

He added that once deportation orders are obtained from the competent authorities, further legal action would be initiated and the illegal immigrants would be sent back to their respective countries.

As part of the exercise, police are checking identity and other documents of people suspected to be residing in the city without valid authorisation.

Police sources said the focus is particularly on suspected Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas.

The police are also verifying Aadhaar cards and voter identity cards of suspected persons, as officials suspect that some foreign nationals may have obtained Indian identity documents through the assistance of local handlers.

Police sources said more than 50 persons have been tracked during the ongoing exercise, while the identities of four Bangladeshi nationals have been established. Those without proper documents are being subjected to further verification.

The police have also turned their attention to temporary sheds and other makeshift accommodation rented out to migrant workers.

DCP Adavat said some local residents allegedly construct sheds and rent them out to construction workers who come to Bengaluru from other states and districts. Police suspect that some unauthorised foreign nationals may also be residing in such premises along with migrant workers.

“We will initiate action against those facilitating such unauthorised stay,” the DCP said.

The police said the verification drive will continue across the city and that further action will be taken based on the documents and evidence gathered during the exercise.