Bengaluru Mega Crackdown: 160 Illegal Bangladeshi Nationals Deported on Special Flight

In one of the largest single-day repatriation operations conducted in southern India, Karnataka law enforcement authorities on Wednesday morning deported approximately 160 Bangladeshi nationals who were residing in the country without valid legal documentation. The coordinated mission was executed under a joint security umbrella involving the Bengaluru City Police, the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), the Border Security Force (BSF), and the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Multi-Agency Coordination and Inter-City Verification Drive

Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh confirmed that all 160 individuals were apprehended during intensive, intelligence-led verification sweeps carried out across diverse municipal zones. The foreign nationals were identified as having crossed international borders unlawfully and overstaying without verified passports, visas, or valid residential endorsements. Following comprehensive biometric verification, inter-agency background documentation, and consular confirmation of citizenship through the FRRO, formal deportation orders were expedited under statutory immigration frameworks.

Dedicated Chartered Aircraft Arranged from HAL Airport

Highlighting the unique logistics of the exercise, Commissioner Singh noted that this marks only the second recorded deportation of undocumented Bangladeshi nationals by air from the city. While previous removals involved smaller clusters escorted onto scheduled commercial passenger flights, the sheer scale of the detainee group necessitated chartering a dedicated special transport aircraft. The operation commenced early Wednesday morning from the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Airport facility, with the flight officially lifting off at approximately 9:30 AM.

High-Security Police Escort Assigned for Flight Transit

To ensure airtight custody throughout the repatriation corridor, formal security arrangements were synchronized days prior to the departure. The FRRO formally submitted a requisition to the Bengaluru Deputy Commissioner of Police (Intelligence) on September 18, detailing the requirement for an armed escort detachment. In response, a multi-member security contingent—including six senior police officers and specialized armed personnel—accompanied the aircraft directly on the repatriation journey to maintain order during the flight and manage custody handovers at the designated border point.