Bengaluru's 'Operation Mukta' targets illegal immigrants across tech corridors
Synopsis
Bengaluru Police have launched 'Operation Mukta' across the city's tech corridors, deploying over 500 personnel to verify documents and track illegal immigrants. With 4 Bangladeshi nationals already identified and action threatened against local facilitators, the drive signals a sharp escalation in enforcement — and raises questions about how deeply unauthorised residents have embedded themselves in the city's migrant labour ecosystem.
Key Takeaways
Bengaluru Police launched 'Operation Mukta' on 8 August to identify and deport illegal immigrants across the city.
More than 500 police personnel are involved; verification is underway at more than 30 locations in the Whitefield division alone.
Over 50 persons have been tracked so far; identities of 4 Bangladeshi nationals have been established.
The drive focuses particularly on suspected Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas , including scrutiny of Aadhaar and voter ID cards .
Police have warned of action against local residents who allegedly facilitate unauthorised stay through makeshift rental accommodation.
Cases will be referred to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) for deportation proceedings.
Bengaluru Police launched 'Operation Mukta' on Saturday, 8 August, a city-wide special drive to identify and track illegal immigrants allegedly residing across several localities, with raids and document verification exercises already underway. The operation, conducted on the orders of the Bengaluru Police Commissioner, has deployed more than 500 police personnel and officers across the city.
Areas Under the Scanner
Verification exercises are being conducted in Whitefield, Kadugodi, Mahadevapura, and other localities falling under the Whitefield DCP division. Notably, these three areas form part of Bengaluru's major technology corridors, home to several multinational IT and biotechnology companies, making the drive particularly significant given the density of migrant and contract labour in the region.
According to Sydulla Adavat, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Whitefield division, verification is being conducted at more than 30 locations across various police station limits within the division alone. '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),' DCP Adavat said.
Who Is Being Targeted
Police sources said the drive is focused particularly on suspected Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas. Authorities are also scrutinising Aadhaar cards and voter identity cards of suspected persons, as officials believe some foreign nationals may have obtained Indian identity documents through local handlers.
So far, more than 50 persons have been tracked during the ongoing exercise, and the identities of four Bangladeshi nationals have reportedly been established. Those without proper documentation are being subjected to further verification.
Action Against Facilitators
Police have also turned their attention to temporary sheds and makeshift accommodation rented out to migrant workers. DCP Adavat said some local residents allegedly construct such structures and lease them to construction workers arriving from other states and districts, and that unauthorised foreign nationals may be residing in these premises alongside domestic migrants.
'We will initiate action against those facilitating such unauthorised stay,' Adavat said. Once deportation orders are obtained from competent authorities, the police have confirmed that further legal action will follow and those found to be illegal immigrants will be sent back to their respective countries.
What Happens Next
The verification drive is set to continue across Bengaluru, with police indicating that further action will be determined by the documents and evidence gathered at each location. The involvement of the FRRO in the process means deportation proceedings, where warranted, will follow an established legal pathway. This comes amid heightened scrutiny of illegal immigration in several Indian cities, with similar operations having been conducted in Delhi, Mumbai, and other metropolitan centres in recent years.
Point of View
Not incidental. The choice of Bengaluru's tech corridors as the primary theatre is telling: dense migrant labour populations in construction and services provide cover that is difficult to penetrate through routine policing. The critical question mainstream coverage is not asking is how four individuals out of more than 50 tracked have been definitively identified as Bangladeshi nationals — the evidentiary standard and legal process behind that determination will determine whether the operation holds up to judicial scrutiny or becomes a source of wrongful detention complaints.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'Operation Mukta' in Bengaluru?
'Operation Mukta' is a city-wide special drive launched by Bengaluru Police on 8 August to identify and track illegal immigrants allegedly residing across several localities. The operation involves document verification, raids, and referral of confirmed cases to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) for deportation proceedings.
Which areas are being covered under Operation Mukta?
The drive is currently active in Whitefield, Kadugodi, Mahadevapura, and other areas falling under the Whitefield DCP division, with verification at more than 30 locations. The operation covers the entire city on the orders of the Bengaluru Police Commissioner.
Who are the primary targets of the Bengaluru immigration crackdown?
Police sources said the drive is focused particularly on suspected Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas. Authorities are also scrutinising Aadhaar cards and voter identity cards, suspecting that some foreign nationals may have obtained Indian identity documents through local handlers.
How many illegal immigrants have been identified so far?
According to police sources, more than 50 persons have been tracked during the ongoing exercise, and the identities of four Bangladeshi nationals have reportedly been established. Some individuals have already been deported following due legal process, officials said.
What action will be taken against those who shelter illegal immigrants?
DCP Sydulla Adavat warned that police will initiate action against local residents who allegedly construct temporary sheds and rent them to unauthorised foreign nationals. Those found to be facilitating illegal stay will face legal consequences alongside the immigrants themselves.
