Southern India’s growing labour shortage is increasingly being exploited by illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators, who are entering India through organised cross-border networks, obtaining forged identity documents, and finding employment across construction sites, industries, ports, and fisheries, according to police officials, as reported in Vijay Karnataka.
Authorities estimate that Karnataka alone is currently home to around 13,675 illegal foreign migrants, with nearly 80% residing in Bengaluru. Police say many have entered India through West Bengal before travelling to southern states in search of work.
₹10,000 To Cross The Border
According to accounts given by illegal Bangladeshi migrants during police questioning, crossing the India-Bangladesh border has become a well-organised operation run by agents.
Migrants claim that they pay ₹10,000 to an agent to facilitate illegal entry into India. The agents allegedly coordinate the entire process, including making arrangements with personnel stationed along the border, allowing infiltrators to cross with relative ease.
The same network reportedly operates in reverse as well.
“We have to pay another ₹10,000 to the agent even if we want to return to Bangladesh,” migrants reportedly told investigators.
Police say the disclosures raise serious concerns about India’s border security.
Rajshahi–Murshidabad Corridor Used For Illegal Entry
The infiltration is said to occur primarily along the border between Rajshahi district in Bangladesh and Murshidabad district in West Bengal.
Although the Border Security Force (BSF) maintains round-the-clock surveillance along the international border, infiltrators reportedly use alternative routes with the assistance of organised agents who manage illegal crossings for payment.
Fake Aadhaar Cards Prepared Soon After Entry
Once inside India, the next step is obtaining forged identity documents.
Police say agents allegedly approach a local Indian resident, pay them a fixed amount, and obtain a copy of their Aadhaar card. The document is then scanned, after which only the photograph is replaced with that of the Bangladeshi migrant.
The altered Aadhaar card is printed in colour, laminated, and made to resemble an original Aadhaar card.
Officials say the document appears authentic and even carries valid details, with only the photograph being changed, making detection difficult during routine verification.
After obtaining these forged identity documents, the migrants travel across India in search of employment.
Labour Shortage In Southern Part of India Creating Opportunity
Police say illegal Bangladeshi migrants are finding employment in multiple sectors, including construction, road infrastructure projects, small and large industries, ports, and fisheries.
Officials point out that contractors in Southern part of India frequently recruit workers from North India due to an acute labour shortage.
According to investigators, illegal Bangladeshi migrants often travel alongside these labour groups by train into different parts of the country.
Police allege that many contractors employ workers without conducting proper document verification, making it easier for illegal migrants to secure jobs.
Crackdown In West Bengal Triggering Shift South
Police also say recent developments in West Bengal have altered migration patterns.
Following the formation of a new government in the state, authorities have reportedly intensified verification drives targeting illegal migrants across West Bengal.
Officials say illegal Bangladeshi nationals found during these inspections are being deported.
According to information obtained during police interrogation, this increased enforcement has prompted many illegal migrants over the past two months to move towards southern states, which they reportedly perceive as safer destinations.
Attempts To Obtain Indian Citizenship Through Marriage
Investigators have also flagged another emerging trend.
Police say that after entering India illegally, some Bangladeshi migrants allegedly attempt to obtain Indian citizenship by marrying local women.
Officials have urged the Labour Department to monitor migrant workers more closely and conduct inspections of labour camps, recruitment agencies, and contractors.
Authorities have also called for verification of records maintained by agencies supplying labourers as well as documentation held by construction contractors.
Karnataka Houses Over 13,000 Illegal Migrants
According to police estimates, Karnataka has become a major destination for illegal foreign migrants.
Authorities have identified 13,675 illegal foreign migrants across the state, with approximately 80% residing in Bengaluru.
Apart from Bengaluru, officials say more than 200 illegal migrants have been identified in Belagavi, Mangaluru, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, and Mysuru.
On Friday, police also detected eight illegal Bangladeshi migrants at a building near Surathkal.
Contractors Must Verify Workers, Says Police Commissioner
Speaking on the issue, Mangaluru City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy said illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators enter India through agents, procure fake Aadhaar cards, and subsequently move to Southern part of India to take up employment in sectors facing labour shortages.
He stressed that contractors must verify the authenticity of workers’ documents before employing them.
Where complete document verification is difficult, he suggested that employers ask basic questions relating to the worker’s claimed home state, which could help establish whether the individual is genuinely from the state mentioned in their identity documents.
Police have maintained that stronger verification mechanisms by contractors, labour suppliers, and government departments are necessary to curb the movement and employment of illegal infiltrators using forged identity documents.
Subscribe to our channels on WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram and YouTube to get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
