Indian authorities have detained 18 individuals, including women and children, in Bengaluru on suspicion of being undocumented Bangladeshi nationals. The group was transported to West Bengal via the Bengaluru-Howrah Duronto Express, arriving at Howrah Station on Tuesday afternoon.
According to the Karnataka State Police, the individuals were taken into custody after failing to produce valid citizenship or residency documents during a period of heightened surveillance. While the adults in the group reportedly worked as migrant laborers in Bengaluru for several years, police noted their "suspicious movements" prompted the investigation and subsequent interrogation.
Upon arrival at Howrah, the group remained under the strict supervision of the Railway Police. Local officials at the station declined to comment on the specific legal status of the detainees or their immediate destination. Some of those detained maintained they were in India solely for livelihood, attributing their lack of identification to personal circumstances rather than illegal entry.
The future of the group remains uncertain. Authorities are currently debating whether to move the individuals to a shelter home in West Bengal or initiate deportation proceedings at the border. The local administration continues to monitor the situation closely as they await instructions from higher authorities.
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