Police say 681 illegal immigrants are missing in Bengaluru, launch manhunt

Citing official data, Kamal Pant, city police commissioner said 681 foreigners have gone missing. Pant said they will be tracked on the basis of information from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) and will be deported.

Bengaluru: The Bengaluru city police in a new revelation on illegal migrants in the city informed that many foreigners have gone missing in the state capital. Citing official data, Kamal Pant, city police commissioner said 681 foreigners have gone missing.

Pant said they will be tracked on the basis of information from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) and will be deported. "Most of the foreign nationals residing illegally are involved in criminal activities. Some are involved in cybercrime, drug sales, and prostitution. There are an estimated seven to eight thousand foreign nationals residing in Bengaluru. The majority of them are Nigeria and Congo nationals. Of these, 681 are residing in Bengaluru illegally without any visa and passport," said Pant.

Foreign students arriving in Bengaluru for education will be transferred to a different address after the expiry of their visa and passport. Their address would be traced and action will be taken, he said. As per data in the month of May 2021, 705 people were illegally residing in the city. During May and June 2021, 27 of them were found to be illegal residents after police investigation. Their deportation process is ongoing. Till the end of June, 63 foreign nationals have been booked in criminal cases, according to Pant.

Regarding the death of a foreign national at JC Nagar police station recently, Pant said five accused have been arrested. He added that Democratic Republic of Congo Embassy officials have contacted them in connection with the incident and they said they are satisfied with the probe.

Pant was referring to the alleged custodial death of a 27-year-old Congo national on August 1. After hospitalization, he reportedly died of cardiac arrest around 6:45 am on August 2. The case was transferred to Crime Investigation Department for probe. The foreigner's death has created an uproar in Bengaluru with foreigners hitting the streets to protests, as per reports.