Karnataka to form special squad to identify, deport illegal Bangladeshi immigrants

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Jan 30, 2026: Karnataka’s Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Thursday announced that the state government plans to form a special squad to identify and expel illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.

While replying to a calling attention by MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal in the state Assembly, Reddy said the agents who bring Bangladeshis to the state will also be arrested.

Reddy said that during his previous tenure as Home Minister, a special squad had been formed to identify Bangladeshi immigrants working on agricultural estates.

“If needed, we will form a special squad, identify the illegal Bangladeshis in the state and send them back," the minister assured Yatnal, who is an expelled BJP legislator. “We will start a drive to flush out the illegal Bangladeshi immigrants to deport them. We will also book and arrest the agents, who bring Bangladeshis to Karnataka," Reddy said.

Yatnal claimed that there are around 25 lakh illegal Bangladeshi migrants in the state working in agricultural estates, shopping malls, and security agencies, and demanded that the government take action.

Reddy noted that there were 370 illegal Bangladeshis in Karnataka of which 213 people have been sent back while action is being taken against the rest.

Those who have not been repatriated are being held at the Foreign Detention Centre due to their involvement in certain criminal cases. The minister added that people from the North East and West Bengal are sometimes mistakenly identified as Bangladeshi nationals.

“Karnataka has people from the north east and not Bangladesh. There are about eight lakh to 10 lakh people from West Bengal, seven lakh to eight lakh from Bihar, people from Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Kerala in Bengaluru," Reddy said.

He also blamed the Centre for the illegal Bangladeshi migrants.

“Where do the Bangladeshis come from. Bangladesh is not next to Karnataka. The Centre should stop the illegal migrants. Why are they letting Bangladeshis in Karnataka," he charged.

Yatnal welcomed the formation of the squad, stating that illegal Bangladeshi migrants pose a serious security threat to India, as some could be involved in criminal activities or terrorism.

The MLA further alleged that the state intelligence department has completely failed as they could not detect the actual number of Bangladeshis residing in the state.

“Over 25 lakh Bangladeshis are there in the state and they are involved in various kinds of crime. The way these Bangladeshis are burning Hindus alive in their country, that kind of situation should not arise in Karnataka," the Vijayapura MLA said.

He also alleged that the police file cases against those attempting to identify illegal Bangladeshi migrants, a claim that the minister denied.

Yatnal also demanded protection to those who provide information as they should not be troubled. In reply, Reddy said, “let them provide information but they should not take law into their hands."