2.5 lakh illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in Karnataka; Most possess Aadhaar cards

Bengaluru: The central and state investigating agencies have unearthed that there are about 2.5 lakh Bangladeshi living illegally in the state. Most among them possess Indian documents such as Aadhaar cards and Voter IDs, thereby cementing their credentials as Indian citizenship, sources said.

OF the 2.5 lakh illegal immigrants, around 2 lakh of them live in the state’s capital Bengaluru, the investigation has found. The issue is being monitored continuously by the investigating agencies and a report is being prepared to be sent to the Union government, sources added.

The Bangladeshi migrants have taken vacant plots in Bengaluru city and nearby rural areas on lease and have built shanties and sheds on them. These shanties are being let to others who arrive from Bengladesh. Illegal migrants were also found working in the plantations of Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu and Madikeri, sources added.

The sources said that the investigations have found that the organized mafia is operating on the India-Bangladesh border, sneaking in Bangladeshi immigrants illegally into India. Bengaluru seems to be the preferred destination for these immigrants. The mafia earns up to Rs 16,000 per person, sources said.