Udupi

One of the seven illegal Bangladeshi immigrants arrested in Malpe stated that around 25,000 individuals have entered India illegally from Bangladesh over the last three to five years. Police estimate that the number of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in Karnataka could exceed 100,000.

Reports indicate a network that facilitates the illegal entry of these immigrants through states like West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Mizoram. K Arun, the Superintendent of Police for Udupi district, noted the difficulty in pinpointing the exact number and locations of these immigrants once they enter India. Various agencies, including the BSF, Army, and government bodies, are involved in addressing this issue. Once inside India, many immigrants can travel freely by bus or train.

Police investigations into the arrested individuals are ongoing. Authorities believe that about 25,000 illegal immigrants have settled in districts like Shivamogga, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, Bengaluru, and Chikkamagaluru in recent years. Some of these immigrants have lived in Karnataka long enough to speak fluent Kannada and even integrate into local communities, with some owning property and holding Aadhaar cards and voter IDs.

The intelligence department lacks precise information on these immigrants, and a retired police officer suggested that local police need to enhance their efforts to track them down. There are also calls for police to investigate brokers who bring laborers from other states to Karnataka. Locals in Malpe have reported a significant number of Bangladeshi nationals working at the fishing port and on boats.