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‘Mini Bangladesh’ Busted In Bengaluru: Fake IDs, Welfare Abuse Expose Scale Of Illegal Immigration

The Commune
‘Mini Bangladesh’ Busted In Bengaluru: Fake IDs, Welfare Abuse Expose Scale Of Illegal Immigration

A series of crackdowns by local Hindu groups as well as authorities across Bengaluru has brought into sharp focus the scale, organisation, and systemic facilitation of illegal Bangladeshi immigration into the city, exposing failures in identity verification, welfare delivery, and local governance.

‘Mini Bangladesh’ in Anekal Flattened

The most striking case emerged from Gaurenahalli in Anekal, on the outskirts of Bengaluru, where authorities uncovered an illegal settlement of over 600 Bangladeshi immigrants who had been living for nearly two years in what locals described as a “mini Bangladesh”.

Following a media expose, officials launched a large-scale demolition drive, deploying three JCBs to raze over 500 illegally constructed sheds. Investigations revealed the settlement functioned as a fully operational colony, complete with unauthorised electricity connections, forged documents, and access to government welfare schemes.

Authorities found widespread use of fake Aadhaar cards and forged birth certificates, with several documents carrying conflicting birth years for the same individual. These falsified records were allegedly used to tap into state welfare schemes, including the Gruhalakshmi scheme, meant exclusively for eligible residents of Karnataka. Sources also confirmed that weapons, including daggers, were recovered from within the demolished structures.

Though residents initially claimed they hailed from West Bengal and had informed local officials of their presence, document verification established that the papers were entirely fabricated, prompting authorities to clear the settlement and begin repatriation procedures. Officials have stressed that no leniency will be shown in cases involving infiltration and misuse of public resources.

Bettadasanapura–Hebbugodi Belt Under Scanner

Parallel action unfolded in the Bettadasanapura–Hebbugodi area, where demolition drives initiated against illegal constructions led to the arrest of 16 Bangladeshi nationals within the limits of Hebbugodi Police Station.

The breakthrough came after a viral video surfaced during a demolition exercise, showing a woman praising Bangladesh while recording the operation. Police identified her as Sarbana Khathuna, a resident of Podi village in the Bettadasanapura–Hebbugodi belt. Verification revealed she was an illegal immigrant living with a group of undocumented Bangladeshi nationals.

During interrogation, the detainees disclosed that they had paid ₹25,000 to ₹50,000 each to agents who facilitated their illegal entry. According to police, the migrants crossed the Bangladesh border, travelled to Kolkata, and were then transported to Bengaluru by train. Local agents allegedly arranged Aadhaar cards, voter IDs, and, over time, even BPL cards, enabling them to blend into the city’s informal workforce. Sixteen people, including three men, remain in custody.

Aadhaar, Banks, and Birth Certificates

Ground-level investigations by locals across Bettadasanapura, Hebbugodi, Kogilu, and Anekal have exposed a disturbing pattern. Officials conducting the backward classes survey reportedly placed survey stickers on houses later identified as being occupied by Bangladeshi nationals.

🚨Karnataka: Bangladesh illegal immigrant gets – Bank a/c, 4.5L LOAN, voter ID, PAN

In at least one case, authorities found that a Bangladeshi migrant with no legal identity accessed maternity services, resulting in a child being issued an Indian birth certificate, effectively creating legal status for the next generation while relatives continued to live in Bangladesh with Indian identity documents.

Bangladeshis Acknowledge They Are Illegal

After social workers from Hindu organisations confronted the illegal Bangladeshis, they kindly request them to leave the country. An illegal is seen translating that in Bangla to his fellow illegal counterparts. Calling it a national security issue, the social workers and activists state that lakhs of illegal migrants are present and warn that continued inaction will allow them to secure Aadhaar, ration cards, and PAN cards. Appealing directly to central leaders, they demanded urgent intervention, including electoral roll revision and an NIA probe, while one activist alleged that he faced multiple FIRs and social media bans for raising the issue but vows to continue.

Whitefield Murder Case Reveals Fake ID Network

Authorities have clarified that these cases are not isolated. Earlier this month, while probing the rape and murder of a six-year-old girl in Whitefield, police arrested Yusuf Mir (30). He initially claimed to be from West Bengal, producing Aadhaar and voter ID cards. Subsequent checks revealed both documents were fake and that Mir was a Bangladeshi national.

Investigators found that Mir had three wives – two residing in Kolkata and one in Whitefield. Police are now verifying the documents of his associates, including the victim’s parents, after learning that a dispute between families preceded the murder.

Kogilu Layout: Multiple IDs and Welfare Access

Further north, Kogilu Layout has emerged as another flashpoint. A BJP fact-finding committee has alleged that of 252 applicants for government housing schemes in the area, only 26 were locals. Many occupants were found in possession of multiple Aadhaar and voter ID cards, raising suspicions that several were Bangladeshi or Rohingya illegal immigrants.

The issue had earlier sparked political controversy and even a Kerala–Karnataka row over minority rights before being downplayed by the state government. The BJP has now demanded a National Investigation Agency probe, accusing the administration of looking the other way.

A City-Wide Pattern

From Bettadasanapura and Hebbugodi to Whitefield, Kogilu, and Anekal, the unfolding cases point to a systemic collapse rather than isolated lapses. As verification, demolition, and deportation drives expand, the revelations raise serious questions about how hundreds of illegal immigrants managed to live for years in Bengaluru, armed with official documents, welfare benefits, bank loans, and civic recognition without detection.

Source: Free Press Journal 

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