Bengaluru: Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge said around 1,000 suspected illegal immigrants, primarily from Bangladesh and African countries, have been identified in the state over the past three months during intensified inspection and search operations.

Addressing the media in Bengaluru on Sunday, Kharge said the state government had adopted a zero-tolerance approach towards illegal immigration and stressed that the verification drive would continue rather than remain a short-term exercise.

Search operations to continue

Kharge said law enforcement agencies had been carrying out rigorous inspections and searches across Karnataka to identify people suspected of staying in the state without valid documentation.

He said the exercise was not being conducted merely as a temporary drive and that the authorities intended to continue the operations on a sustained basis.

“The government has a zero-tolerance policy towards illegal immigrants. This is not a temporary drive; the search operations are being conducted strictly and seriously and will continue,” Kharge said.

According to the minister, around 1,000 people suspected to be illegal immigrants have been identified during the operations conducted over the last three months.

He said those identified were primarily from Bangladesh and African countries, while also stating that they had come to Karnataka from northern parts of India.

Karnataka coordinating with central agencies

Kharge said Karnataka’s law enforcement agencies were coordinating with central authorities, including the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRO), as part of the process.

He stressed that identifying and verifying suspected illegal immigrants required continued coordination between state and central agencies.

“We are already in touch with BSF and FRO officials. We are giving 100% attention to this issue,” he said.

The minister added that the state was prepared to establish a separate team if required to strengthen the ongoing exercise.

He also called for greater cooperation from the Union government, particularly in matters relating to border security and the movement of people across states.

Kharge raises questions over border security

Kharge questioned how people suspected of entering India illegally were able to reach Karnataka, which does not share an international border with Bangladesh or other countries mentioned in the context of the operation.

“Our state does not share international borders with Bangladesh, Nepal, or any other country. If they are entering the state, where are they coming from? Are they coming through Tripura, Assam, or West Bengal?” he asked.

He said responsibility for securing India’s international borders rests with the central government and argued that the movement of people over long distances raised questions about vulnerabilities along both international and inter-state routes.

“Border security is the responsibility of the central government,” Kharge said, while calling for stronger coordination to address the issue.

He further argued that if people were able to travel from border regions to Karnataka, authorities would need to examine how such movement was taking place and whether gaps existed in enforcement along the way.

Minister cautions against vigilantism

Kharge also raised concerns about a trend on social media in which individuals allegedly visit settlements or slum areas, question residents about their origins and record the interactions.

He urged members of the public who have information about suspected illegal immigration to share it with government authorities instead of confronting people themselves.

“Recently, a trend has started where some people go to slums, question the residents about their country or state of origin, record videos, and abuse the government as they please,” he said.

The minister cautioned that such actions could lead to harassment and potentially interfere with legitimate enforcement procedures.

He asked citizens to provide actionable information to officials so that authorities can conduct proper verification based on documentation and established procedures.

Government asks public to share information

Kharge said citizens who have credible information about suspected illegal immigrants should approach the authorities rather than attempting to investigate individuals themselves.

He questioned whether people seeking attention on social media could inadvertently assist organised networks by confronting individuals without proper verification.

“If you have information, come forward and provide it to our officials,” he said.

The minister’s remarks come amid heightened attention in Karnataka over the identification and verification of people suspected of residing in the state without valid immigration or identity documents.

The authorities are expected to continue checking documentation and coordinating with central agencies to determine the status of those identified during the inspections.

Sustained verification planned

Kharge made it clear that the state government does not intend to restrict the exercise to a single week or a short campaign.

He said the operations would continue and that additional resources could be deployed if required.

The minister also emphasised the need for cooperation between Karnataka and the Union government to trace the routes through which suspected illegal immigrants may have entered the country and subsequently travelled to the state.

As the verification exercise continues, authorities will have to establish the nationality and legal status of the individuals identified during the inspections through due process.

The government has also urged the public to avoid taking the law into their own hands and instead provide information to the appropriate authorities.

The ongoing operation is therefore expected to focus not only on identifying suspected illegal immigrants but also on verifying their documents, tracing their movement and coordinating with agencies responsible for immigration and border security.