Bengaluru police have arrested 19 migrant workers from West Bengal and four members of a right-wing group after a clash at a plastic recycling godown near Electronic City, where the group allegedly entered the premises to identify suspected illegal immigrants and assaulted workers.
The incident took place on October 28 at around 4 pm. Police registered two cases after complaints were filed by the two groups against each other. The arrests followed allegations that workers were falsely accused of being undocumented Bangladeshis and were questioned about their nationality.
According to the complaint filed by Hajaipul Sheikh, a plastic recycling worker from West Bengal, around seven or eight people arrived at the godown in two cars while allegedly posing as police officers. The group reportedly demanded identity documents from migrant workers. When the workers refused to show their documents, they allegedly abused and assaulted them.
Sheikh alleged that one of the men struck his right knee with a wooden stick, while another kicked him from behind, causing him to fall. He further alleged that members of the group trampled on him and that another worker was slapped on the forehead. The group allegedly pressured the workers to admit that they were from Bangladesh.
Sheikh named six people in his complaint, including Bengaluru-based doctor Dr Nagendrappa T, Santosh Karthala, Amit Soudi, Pawan, C Rajath and Sannidhi S Shetty. He also identified one of the vehicles allegedly used by the group.
Police initially arrested the 19 migrant workers based on a complaint filed by Dr Nagendrappa. The arrests of the doctor and three associates—Soudi, Shetty and Rajath—followed a counter-complaint filed by Sheikh. The four were later released on bail.
The migrant workers had submitted a written complaint to the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner and the Home Minister, alleging that they had been assaulted. The complaint stated that police did not immediately register a First Information Report based on their representation.
A senior police officer said Dr Nagendrappa and the others had illegally entered the premises under the pretext of detecting illegal immigrants and assaulted residents. “Legal action has been taken, and the accused have been arrested,” the officer said.
M Narayana, Deputy Commissioner of Police for Electronic City, cautioned members of the public against taking the law into their own hands while attempting to identify suspected illegal immigrants. He said people with such information should alert the police, adding that unauthorised attempts to identify or detain individuals would invite legal action.
