Bengaluru Police identify 105 Bangladeshi nationals in Operation Mukta drive
Synopsis
Bengaluru Police's Operation Mukta has put a number to the city's illegal immigration concern — 105 Bangladeshi nationals identified in a single Saturday sweep across 58 locations, with over 2,900 people verified. The drive is still ongoing, and investigators are now probing whether local handlers helped some foreign nationals obtain Indian identity documents.
Key Takeaways
Bengaluru Police identified 105 Bangladeshi nationals allegedly staying without authorisation as part of Operation Mukta on 10 August 2025 .
58 police teams and more than 500 personnel conducted inspections across 58 locations on Saturday.
In the Whitefield division , 62 nationals were flagged after 1,035 people were verified; Electronic City division identified 43 from 1,909 verified.
Cases where foreign national status is confirmed will be referred to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) for deportation proceedings.
Police are also probing whether local handlers helped foreign nationals obtain Aadhaar or voter identity cards .
The operation targets suspected Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas and will continue across Bengaluru.
Bengaluru Police have identified 105 Bangladeshi nationals allegedly residing in the city without valid authorisation as part of 'Operation Mukta', a citywide verification drive targeting suspected illegal immigrants across the state capital, police said on Monday, 10 August. The operation deployed 58 police teams across 58 locations on Saturday, with more than 500 personnel and officers involved in the exercise.
Key Developments
The bulk of the identifications came from two divisions. In the Whitefield division, police verified 1,035 individuals and identified 62 Bangladeshi nationals allegedly staying without valid documents. In the Electronic City division — covering Electronic City, Hulimavu, Parappana Agrahara, Bandepalya, Hebbagodi, and Begur — police verified 1,909 people and flagged 43 nationals. Together, these two divisions account for the full tally of 105 individuals identified in the latest phase.
What the Police Said
Sydulla Adavat, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Whitefield division, confirmed the operation was launched 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,' Adavat said.
On the verification process, Adavat added: '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).' He clarified that deportation would follow only after orders from competent authorities.
Scope and Focus of the Operation
Police are checking identity documents — including Aadhaar and voter identity cards — of people suspected to be staying in Bengaluru without valid authorisation. According to police sources, the exercise is particularly focused on suspected Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas. Officials are also investigating whether some foreign nationals may have obtained Indian identity documents with the assistance of local handlers.
The verification drive has been extended to temporary sheds and makeshift accommodation where migrant workers reside. Police suspect that some unauthorised foreign nationals may be sheltering in such premises, which are often rented out by local residents to construction workers arriving from other states and districts. Adavat said action would be initiated against individuals found to be facilitating the unauthorised stay of foreign nationals.
What Happens Next
The operation is set to continue across Bengaluru, with further verification and legal action to follow based on documents and evidence gathered during the exercise. Cases where foreign national status is established will be referred to the FRRO, after which deportation proceedings may be initiated through competent authorities. This comes amid a broader national focus on identifying and acting against alleged illegal immigration, with similar drives reported in other cities in recent months.
Point of View
And city-level drives like this one generate visible action at relatively low administrative cost. The more consequential question is what happens after identification: deportation requires bilateral coordination with Bangladesh and orders from competent authorities, a process that has historically moved slowly. The probe into local handlers obtaining Indian identity documents for foreign nationals is the sharper thread here — if substantiated, it points to a systemic failure in document issuance that a verification drive alone cannot fix.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Operation Mukta in Bengaluru?
Operation Mukta is a special citywide verification drive launched by the Bengaluru Police to identify and verify suspected illegal immigrants residing in different parts of the state capital. It involves document checks, raids, and inspections across multiple localities, with more than 500 police personnel deployed.
How many Bangladeshi nationals were identified in the Bengaluru drive?
Bengaluru Police identified 105 Bangladeshi nationals allegedly staying without valid authorisation during the latest phase of Operation Mukta, conducted on Saturday across 58 locations. The figures come from the Whitefield division (62 identified) and the Electronic City division (43 identified).
What will happen to the Bangladeshi nationals identified in Bengaluru?
Cases where foreign national status is established will be referred to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO). Deportation proceedings will be initiated only after orders are obtained from competent authorities, according to DCP Sydulla Adavat.
Which areas of Bengaluru were covered under Operation Mukta?
The operation covered 58 locations across the city, with a focus on the Whitefield and Electronic City divisions. Areas including Whitefield, Kadugodi, Mahadevapura, Hulimavu, Parappana Agrahara, Bandepalya, Hebbagodi, and Begur were among those inspected.
Are local facilitators also being investigated under Operation Mukta?
Yes. Police are investigating whether some foreign nationals obtained Indian identity documents — such as Aadhaar or voter identity cards — with the help of local handlers. DCP Adavat confirmed that action will be initiated against individuals found to be facilitating the unauthorised stay of foreign nationals.
