Bengaluru: Despite tensions across the country over the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Citizenship Ammendment Act (CAA), Karnataka launches its first detention camp for illegal immigrants.
“Decks will be cleared for the detention centre and it will be operational in January,” said Amar Kumar Pandey, additional director general of police.
“The new centre, located in Nelamangala, about 40km from Bengaluru city, will house immigrants who have either overstayed illegally or infiltrated into the country. They will be held in the centre until they are deported to their respective countries,” said an official from the state home department.
The State Government has converted a hostel building belonging to a social welfare department into a detention centre which can now accommodate 24 people,” said RS Peddappaiah, commissioner, social welfare department.
“There are 750 foreign nationals who are illegally
overstaying
in Karnataka at present and all of them may be sent to the new detention centre,”
said Labhu Ram, Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO).
“We are expecting the centre to be ready to take people in from January 1. We need to install CCTV cameras and complete the staff quarters. The kitchen and rooms are ready, power and water supply are in place and staff have been allocated,’’ an official of social welfare department said.