Karnataka to build a ‘detention centre’ for overstaying foreigners, illegal immigrants

News Network
August 16, 2018

Bengaluru: The union government of India has urged the Karnataka state government to set up a “detention centre” in Bengaluru exclusively for overstaying foreign nationals and illegal immigrants from other countries.

The Union Home Ministry wrote a letter last week to the Principal Secretary of the State Home Department, directing to take up measures to set up a detention centre in Bengaluru at the earliest. The letter signed by PC Guite, Under Secretary, Union Ministry of Home Affairs (Foreigners’ Dept).

The development comes amidst reports of rising number of crimes involving overstaying foreign nationals across Bengaluru.

“It has been contended that a large number of illegal immigrants from Africa and Bangladesh are residing in Bengaluru. They have been allegedly found indulging in various illegal activities such as drug peddling, prostitution, online frauds, house thefts and robberies,” the letter said.

Referring to the provisions provided with the state governments under the Foreigners Act 1946, the Centre directed Karnataka to restrict the movement of foreign nationals awaiting deportation and restrict them in a detention centre for foreigners, ensuring physical availability at all times for expeditious repatriation or deportation as soon as the travel documents are ready.

Even though the Centre has written to the state, the city police presented a different version. According to them, a proposal to set up a detention centre for foreigners has been pending for three years. The East Division police had demanded a detention centre after overstaying Africans and Bangladeshis were involved in a spate of crimes in the last few years.

Last month, Bengaluru Central parliamentarian P C Mohan and Mahadevapura MLA Aravind Limbavali had appealed to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to set up a detention centre. Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju had also favoured the proposal and directed the ministry’s division concerned to expedite the process.

“As of now, we are doing our best with whatever we have in hand. However, that does not serve any purpose,” revealed a senior police officer. “We can send them to prison, but soon after they get bail, they have to report to a state-designated detention centre which is absent in our state,” admitted an officer. While the state has to bear the expenses towards their stay at the detention centres, the Ministry of External Affairs will later reimburse the money, according to sources.

Promising action, Kamal Pant, ADGP, Law and Order, said, “We are in the process of identifying a suitable place to construct a detention centre. It will be accomplished very soon.”

Comments

Ramprasad
 - 
Thursday, 16 Aug 2018

Each dictricts should have monitoring system. Lack of monitoring creaters security issues

Farooq
 - 
Thursday, 16 Aug 2018

Crime rates are increasing at the same time chances of mob lynching also. People may have doubt on such people and it may leads to mob lynching. Better to start monistoring system and detenyion centres soon

Kumar
 - 
Thursday, 16 Aug 2018

Actually most of them are coming to India for better job. Sending back to refugee camp means sending to hell. Refugee camps are not safe, What we can do is proper monitoring of such people. It may help them also. 

Danish
 - 
Thursday, 16 Aug 2018

What is the purpose of detention centres. Do the authorities accept possible way to return them to their country?

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News Network
July 18,2020

Bengaluru, Jul 18: Vendors in Bengaluru are finding it hard to earn a livelihood as the state government has allowed the sale of products only for a few hours each day. The lockdown imposed by the Karnataka government on July 14 will continue till July 22.

Speaking to ANI, Vanajakshi, a local vendor said, "We took loans from banks and small financiers to run our business. But we are finding it tough to pay back as our livelihoods have been hit."
"Because of the lockdown, no one comes to buy and markets remain vacant. There was a time when the Gandhi Nagar market was filled with customers, but now it looks like a vacant playground," she added.

Mythri, an advocate, said, "Look at the conditions of vendors. It's precarious. They do not have any business at all. Even now they have been allowed to sell products till 12 noon, which is not sufficient. It's time for the government to step in and provide assistance. If the Central government can reduce corporate taxes, why can't it help them? At least it will help them pass off these difficult times. "

"They are earning through daily wages. The government imposed lockdown suddenly. Where will they go? The city market in Bengaluru is famous. At least 8,000 people come from slum areas. People here are poor. The lockdown was done suddenly and led to problems for these people," said Congress MLA Zamil Ahmed Khan.

Referring to a recent meeting with the chief minister BS Yediyurappa, he said, "During the meeting called by the CM, I suggested that food kits must be arranged for vendors. The CM said the government is providing rice and wheat but that's not enough."

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News Network
March 12,2020

Bhopal, Mar 12: Madhya Pradesh Congress on Thursday alleged that two of its ministers who had gone to Bengaluru to meet the rebel party legislators were assaulted.

"Two of our ministers Jitu Patwari and Lakhan Singh had gone to Bengaluru. They were assaulted, we have info that our ministers have been arrested," Madhya Pradesh Congress leader said during a press conference.

Congress further warned that if the police don't take action, the party will take it to the court.

Some of the rebel MLAs had said in a video on Wednesday that they were in Bengaluru out of their own will.

The rebel MLAs have been staying in Bengaluru over the past few days.

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News Network
January 10,2020

Bengaluru, Jan 10: Working President of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, Eashwar Khandre on Friday said that his party has extended its support to the demand made by the former chief minister of Karnataka, HD Kumaraswamy, that a House Committee should be formed to probe into Mangaluru violence.

Emphasising the need for a judicial probe into the incident, Khandre said, "Congress has always said that the truth should prevail and that there should be a judicial inquiry and investigation by a sitting Supreme Court judge or a High Court judge into the incident."

"We support his (HD Kumaraswamy) statement that a House Committee should be set up to probe into the incident of Mangaluru violence. Two innocent people lost their lives during the anti-CAA protest, it is very unfortunate," he added.

Two people were killed in Mangaluru in the alleged police firing after protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act turned violent on December 19.

The Act grants Indian citizenship to refugees from Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Parsi communities fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh who entered India on or before 31, 2014.

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