First detention centre for illegal immigrants launched in K'taka

Bengaluru: The Karnataka state has launched the first detention centre for illegal immigrants near Nelamangala, about 40km from Bengaluru.

“We’ve opened the centre and it’s ready to house illegal immigrants,” RS Peddappaiah, commissioner, social welfare department said.

“The Foreign Regional Registration Office identifies illegal immigrants and sends them to the detention centre. We are ready to house them with the necessary infrastructure and staff,” he added.

Earlier the government had planned to open the centre in January but advanced it reportedly following a directive from the Union government.

It may be recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi while a rally at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi had said while referring to the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC), that there are no detention centres in India.