First detention centre in Karnataka to house illegal immigrants

While a massive protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act has been continuing across the country, a detention centre was opened at Sondekoppa village near Bengaluru in Karnataka. The Home Minister of Karnataka Basavaraj Bommai clarified that the purpose to keep the facility ready is to lodge African nationals overstaying in India and indulging in drug peddling.

Bengaluru (Karnataka): Amid nationwide protests over the controversial citizenship law, the first detention centre in Karnataka, reportedly meant to lodge illegal immigrants and migrants overstaying in the country, has been opened at Sondekoppa village near Bengaluru.

The facility with several rooms, a kitchen and toilets has been kept ready on the directions of the government, a social welfare department official said.

However, the Home Minister of Karnataka Basavaraj Bommai objected to the term 'Detention Centre'.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, he had said, "In qualified terms, it is not a detention centre. There is no purpose to detain someone on the issue of citizenship."

He ruled out that the centre has been operationalised, "... please check with the social welfare department. At least I have no information that it has started. If at all it has been operationalised then there should be some detenue there? No one is there," he added.

According to Bommai, the purpose to keep the facility ready was to lodge African nationals overstaying in India and indulging in drug peddling.

"It is only to keep them (African nationals) there and send them back to their nation," he added.

A social welfare department officer said on condition of anonymity that they have got the direction to keep the 'Central Relief Centre' (CRC) ready before January 1.

The 20-year-old building was a hostel for more than 18 years for the poor and downtrodden community but as the number of students dwindled, it was lying vacant for almost two years waiting for the habitants.

Explaining the reason behind including the Social Welfare Department in this project, the officer said, "Food, accommodation and clothes will be provided to the detenus by our Social Welfare Department."

But, Foreign Regional Registration Officer Labhu Ram, said, "Please check with the Social Welfare Department. The detention centre is looked after by the social welfare department."