Special squad to identify and deport illegal Bangladesh immigrants in Karnataka: Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy

Bengaluru: Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Friday assured the Karnataka Assembly that the government would form a special task force to identify illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in the state and initiate steps to deport them, while arresting agents facilitating their entry.

Responding to expelled BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal during a calling attention motion, Reddy said, “If needed, we will form a special squad, identify illegal Bangladeshis and send them back. We will also book the agents who bring them here.” He added that when he previously held the Home portfolio, a similar squad had been formed to trace illegal migrants in agricultural farms and estates in Chikmagalur and Kodagu.

Yatnal alleged that Karnataka risked becoming “like West Bengal where Hindus are under attack” and claimed over 25 lakh Bangladeshis were residing in the state, posing a security threat.

Rejecting the figure, Reddy said only 370 illegal Bangladeshis had been identified, of whom 213 had already been deported, and blamed the Centre for failing to curb cross-border infiltration.