Bengaluru police on Monday dispatched 31 Bangladeshi nationals to Malda in West Bengal as part of ongoing efforts to identify and process foreigners living in the city without valid documentation, officials said.
Transport and escort
The group was moved from Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT) Bengaluru and put on a train bound for Malda Railway Station. A team of 20 police personnel is accompanying the deportees, who are scheduled to arrive at Malda on Tuesday evening, around 5 pm, according to official information.
Operation Muktha: the wider drive
The action forms part of Operation Muktha, the city police’s initiative to locate, verify and take legal steps against people residing in Bengaluru without proper immigration status. The detainees were arrested in separate cases handled by 10 different police stations across the city.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Electronics City), M. Narayana, outlined the administration’s intent to continue the programme. He said the drive would press on to identify foreign nationals allegedly living illegally in Bengaluru and initiate the necessary legal and deportation procedures.
“Today, 31 Bangladeshi nationals who were secured by 10 different police stations were sent from SMVT Bengaluru to Malda Railway Station in West Bengal for deportation. They are being escorted by 20 police personnel,”
Administrative coordination and local impact in Malda
The rail transfer underscores coordination between Karnataka and West Bengal authorities in managing migration and deportation logistics. Malda — a border-district gateway for such movements because of its rail links and administrative processing capacity — will be the immediate reception point before any further procedures towards repatriation to Bangladesh.
Local administration in Malda typically receives such deportees for identity verification and to arrange onward movement. The arrival often involves the district police and, when required, liaison with central authorities to complete documentation for cross-border repatriation.
Numbers and logistics
- No. of deportees: 31 Bangladeshi nationals
- Origin of transfer: SMVT Bengaluru
- Destination: Malda Railway Station, West Bengal
- Escorts: 20 police personnel
- Arresting units: Detainees secured by 10 Bengaluru police stations
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Operation | Operation Muktha |
| Dispatch date | 31 August 2026 |
| Expected arrival at Malda | 1 September 2026, ~5 pm |
| Escorting force | 20 police personnel |
Context and legal process
Deportation involves multiple stages: arrest for immigration-related violations, verification of nationality, initiation of legal proceedings under applicable laws, and coordination with the sending country for repatriation. While the current movement is the transfer to a West Bengal transit point, further steps must be completed before formal return to Bangladesh.
Operations targeting undocumented migrants have been a focus in several Indian cities in recent years, and inter-state transfers to transit hubs like Malda are common when the route for onward movement or diplomatic processing requires it.
What to expect in Malda
Upon arrival, the group is likely to be processed by local police and immigration agencies. Depending on the verification outcomes, officials may arrange temporary custody, further documentation checks, and coordinate with diplomatic channels or border authorities for final repatriation.
The Bengaluru police said the drive would continue, signalling that more such identifications and transfers could follow as the city steps up enforcement measures.
As this is an ongoing administrative process, further details regarding the identities of the detainees, the exact legal grounds cited, or the timeline for repatriation have not been disclosed by the police at this stage.
