Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Oct 28: Central crime branch (CCB) police here, who undertook an operation to flush out foreign nationals illegally staying in the city, have succeeded in arresting over 60 citizens of Bangladesh who were living here without any valid visas. The operation has been launched in view of terrorist activities noticed of late.

Information was collected about the illegal immigrants who were staying in areas like Marathhalli, K R Pura, Bellandur, HAL and other places. The operation began on Friday night. The police, who have registered cases under Foreign Nationals Act, are verifying their passports, visas etc. The police are also checking Aadhar card and other government facilities these persons have obtained illegally. City police joint commissioner Sandeep Patil, said that most of them work as coolies, and have access to government facilities on the basis of relationships they have developed here.

Patil said that the police had been receiving complaints about overstay/illegal stay of foreign nationals, particularly from Bangladesh, in the city. He added that in the recent past, central intelligence had warned the police to keep an eye on illegal foreign immigrants and their activities. Based on the instructions, the Bangladeshis were rounded up, he explained.

Patil said that his department has information about foreign nationals illegally living in city outskirts like K R Pura, Marathhalli, Bagalur etc, and that raids will continue to be conducted. "We will collect details with the help of immigration officials, match the passport details, visas etc with the people residing here and undertake investigation," he added. He said that illegal immigrants would be found out and deported. He said that the task of finding out and deportation of seven African nationals who were overstaying here even though their student and tourist visas had expired, is under way.

Patil stated that those who sheltered these people will also face criminal case. "Bangladeshis will be taken to Bangla border, contact Bangla embassy at New Delhi and send them back by train," he explained.