31 Bangladeshi nationals deported from Bengaluru reach Malda holding centre
Synopsis
Karnataka's Operation Mukta has moved into its deportation phase — 31 Bangladeshi nationals swept up from 10 Bengaluru police station jurisdictions are now at a West Bengal holding centre awaiting final removal to Bangladesh, escorted by 20 officers across state lines. With the Bengaluru detention centre already at capacity from earlier detentions, the scale of the crackdown is testing logistics as much as law.
Key Takeaways
31 Bangladeshi nationals detained across Bengaluru were transferred to the Karma Tirtha Holding Centre in Malda, West Bengal on Wednesday morning .
The group was detained from 10 police station jurisdictions during a citywide sweep and escorted by 20 police personnel .
The transfer is part of Operation Mukta , Karnataka's statewide crackdown on undocumented foreign nationals.
In late August , Mangaluru City Police separately detained 21 Bangladeshi immigrants found at construction sites; Bengaluru's detention centre was full at the time.
Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh urged citizens to report suspected illegal immigrants through official channels and warned against vigilante action.
Final deportation to Bangladesh will proceed after formalities are completed with West Bengal authorities and the BSF .
Thirty-one Bangladeshi nationals detained across Bengaluru as part of a citywide crackdown on suspected illegal immigrants were transferred to Malda, West Bengal, on Wednesday morning and handed over to authorities at the Karma Tirtha Holding Centre for final deportation procedures, police confirmed. The transfer marks a significant step in Karnataka's ongoing statewide drive against undocumented foreign nationals.
How the Transfer Unfolded
The 31 individuals were escorted from Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT) in Bengaluru to Malda by a team of 20 police personnel, according to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Electronic City) M. Narayana. The group had been detained from the jurisdictions of 10 different police stations spread across Bengaluru during a coordinated sweep targeting suspected illegal immigrants.
Police stated that the group reached Malda on Wednesday morning and was formally handed over to officials at the Karma Tirtha Holding Centre. The necessary legal formalities will be completed in coordination with West Bengal authorities before the nationals are deported to Bangladesh.
Operation Mukta: Karnataka's Statewide Crackdown
The deportation is part of Operation Mukta, a major Karnataka state initiative targeting undocumented foreign nationals, with a primary focus on suspected illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. The operation has gathered pace in recent weeks, drawing in law enforcement across multiple cities and districts.
In late August, Mangaluru City Police detained 21 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants found working at local construction sites. Because the dedicated foreigner detention centre in Bengaluru was at capacity at the time, those individuals were temporarily housed in a local safe house before being escorted to the BSF holding centre in Malda — a logistical challenge that underlines the scale of the ongoing operation.
Police Commissioner's Appeal to Citizens
Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh appealed to residents to share information about suspected illegal immigrants with the police. He also cautioned the public against taking the law into their own hands, urging citizens to route all such information through official channels rather than acting independently.
The commissioner's appeal reflects broader concerns about vigilante responses that have accompanied similar crackdowns in other states, and signals that authorities are keen to manage the operation within a legal framework.
Wider Context and What Comes Next
Karnataka's crackdown is part of a broader national pattern of state-level enforcement actions against suspected undocumented Bangladeshi nationals, which have intensified across several Indian states in recent months. The use of West Bengal's Malda district as a transit and processing point — given its proximity to the Bangladesh border — reflects established inter-state deportation protocols coordinated with the Border Security Force (BSF).
Final deportation of the 31 individuals will proceed once all formalities between Karnataka and West Bengal authorities are completed, with the timeline subject to bilateral coordination with Bangladesh.
Point of View
Crackdowns of this scale risk conflating genuine undocumented migrants with long-resident communities if verification standards are not rigorously applied — a concern that courts have flagged in analogous operations elsewhere. The police commissioner's public appeal against vigilantism is a telling signal that authorities are already managing that risk on the ground.
NationPress
2 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Operation Mukta in Karnataka?
Operation Mukta is a Karnataka state initiative targeting undocumented foreign nationals, primarily focusing on suspected illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. It has involved coordinated sweeps across Bengaluru and other cities, including Mangaluru, resulting in the detention and deportation of dozens of individuals.
Where are the 31 Bangladeshi nationals being held before deportation?
The 31 individuals are being held at the Karma Tirtha Holding Centre in Malda, West Bengal. They were transferred there from Bengaluru on Wednesday morning and will remain until all deportation formalities with West Bengal authorities and the BSF are completed.
Why were the detainees sent to West Bengal instead of being deported directly?
The detainees were transferred to Malda, West Bengal, because it serves as an established transit and processing point for deportations to Bangladesh, given its proximity to the border. The BSF holding centre there is part of the standard inter-state deportation protocol. Bengaluru's own detention centre was also reportedly at capacity.
Who is affected by Bengaluru's crackdown on illegal immigrants?
The crackdown has primarily targeted suspected undocumented Bangladeshi nationals found living and working in Bengaluru and other Karnataka cities. In late August, 21 individuals were separately detained in Mangaluru, where they were found working at construction sites.
What did Bengaluru's Police Commissioner say about the operation?
Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh appealed to citizens to report information about suspected illegal immigrants through official channels. He also explicitly warned residents against taking the law into their own hands, urging cooperation with authorities rather than independent action.
