Police step up crack down on illegal Bangladeshi immigrants

Police on Tuesday (October 29) continued its drive against illegal Bangladeshi immigrants staying in Bengaluru and warned building owners and employers that action will be taken against those who rent out their premises and hire these immigrants without proper verification.

Police said if employees or tenants were found to be illegal immigrants, strict action would be taken against the building owners and their employers. “There are Bangladeshis in the city who don’t have any documents with them and are staying in the country illegally. They can indulge in anti-national activities. Yet, these people were provided shelter,” Bengaluru Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao said.

“We will initiate action for criminal conspiracy under Section 120 (B) of the IPC against those who harbour them,” Rao said.

He said that a few Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) contractors were also under the scanner. These BBMP contractors had hired Bangladeshi labourers as they expect low wages. “We will initiate action against the BBMP contractors and will bring these facts to the notice of the higher-ups,” he added.

Police launched a drive against the illegal immigrants after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) busted a terror module of Jamat-ul-Mujahiddin Bangladesh (JMB) by arresting three of its operatives holed up in and around Bengaluru.

These three ultras who were involved in the Burdwan blast case had wanted to set up their base in South India to carry out their activities in different parts of India.

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The NIA probe revealed that these operatives were in possession of improvised explosive devices and had conducted training camps at a hill in Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu.

The NIA had also expressed its concerns that Karnataka, especially Bengaluru, Mysuru, coastal regions and some interior parts of the state could be harbouring a few other JMB militants. Following the NIA’s inputs, the Karnataka government decided to constitute a specific Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS).

Recently, the police brought as many as 60 illegal Bangladeshi migrants under custody. Police also said that they have widened their network to get information on illegal immigrants.

(With inputs from agencies)