Bengaluru, Feb 26 (NationPress) Karnataka's Home Minister, G. Parameshwara, announced on Thursday that the state government has initiated a targeted operation to identify illegal immigrants, focusing on those who have overstayed their visas and those residing without proper documentation. This move comes in light of opposition allegations regarding the significant presence of undocumented foreign nationals in the state.

During a press conference in Bengaluru, Parameshwara elaborated that certain foreign individuals enter India with valid visas but fail to leave once their visas expire. He mentioned that the authorities are actively collaborating with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) to locate these individuals.

The minister specifically addressed concerns regarding Bangladeshi nationals, stating that this matter has been thoroughly discussed in the legislature, and the government is committed to taking appropriate action.

Responding to the opposition's claims that between 20 lakh and 50 lakh illegal immigrants from Bangladesh are currently in the state, the government has launched a comprehensive statewide verification initiative.

"In this context, I have mandated a special drive. All districts have been notified, and directives have been issued. It is believed that Bengaluru has a considerable population of illegal immigrants, leading to ongoing searches aimed at identifying those residing here without legitimate authorization," he stated.

In response to reports suggesting that around 15,000 children are believed to be missing in the state, Parameshwara affirmed that the government is taking these cases seriously, with regular reviews taking place.

He noted that search operations are underway, and several missing children have been successfully located, while efforts to find others continue.

Additionally, law enforcement in Bengaluru has initiated a focused operation targeting foreign nationals, including suspected illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, residing in the city without valid documentation. On Wednesday alone, over 2,000 individuals were interrogated, revealing that many had either overstayed their visas or lacked proper documentation, according to police sources.

Authorities indicated that they received specific intelligence about migrants, particularly from Nigeria and Bangladesh, living in Bengaluru without the necessary authorization, prompting legal actions against them.

As part of the verification procedure, officials are scrutinizing essential details such as the migrants' country of origin, their date of entry into the city, the responsible person or agency, and the validity of their visas and passports, according to sources.

Law enforcement emphasized that this operation aims to uphold law and order within the city, and they will seek assistance from central agencies if required.