Around 400 migrant workers from West Bengal living in Hulimangala near Bengaluru’s Electronics City say they are facing growing uncertainty amid a police campaign called ‘Operation Mukta’, which is aimed at identifying suspected illegal immigrants.
The workers fear they could be forced to leave their homes after police recently issued show-cause notices to landlords in the area over allegedly unauthorised garbage segregation centres.
Workers Fear Losing Their Homes
According to the workers, the police have been visiting the area and asking residents to vacate. The administration has cited health and hygiene concerns and alleged that some garbage segregation units were operating without the required permissions.
Alauddin, who has worked in garbage collection and segregation, said he and other workers had been employed in Bengaluru through contractors for around 11 years.
He said police officials now visit the settlement regularly and ask residents to leave.
Alauddin said he has nowhere else to go and fears losing the home he built with his savings.
Settlement Houses Migrant Workers and Their Families
Hulimangala is home not only to garbage workers but also to construction workers, daily-wage labourers, domestic workers and security guards. Many live there with their families because the settlement is close to their workplaces and offers relatively affordable accommodation.
Some workers also said they are repeatedly questioned about their citizenship despite possessing government-issued identity documents.
One worker said he carries his identity card with him but is often suspected of being Bangladeshi because he speaks Bengali.
He said migrant workers with valid Indian documents should not be treated as illegal immigrants simply because of their language or place of origin.
Workers Recall Earlier Eviction Attempt
The workers said the current situation has brought back memories of a similar incident around four years ago.
Jabir Shaikh, another labourer, said police had tried to evict him and others at that time. He said the workers received relief after the intervention of the State Human Rights Commission.
The workers maintain that they are not involved in any illegal activities and have urged authorities to distinguish between Indian migrant workers and undocumented immigrants.
They also said they have lived and worked in Bengaluru for years and contribute to the city’s economy.
Police Deny Forced Eviction
Electronics City DCP M. Narayan denied that the police were forcibly evicting migrant workers.
He said the action was directed against allegedly illegal garbage collection and segregation centres, which were operating without permission from the Greater Bengaluru Authority or another competent authority.
The DCP said notices had been issued to landlords following the identification of such centres and that authorities were waiting for their responses.
Further legal action, he said, would be decided after examining the replies.
The police have maintained that the notices are related to unauthorised waste-management activities and do not amount to an order for the forced eviction of migrant workers.
