MANGALURU: Close on the heels of the publication of draft National Register of Citizens (NCR) in Assam highlighting the issue of illegal immigrants in India, the state government has decided to crack the whip in Karnataka . While NCR exercise was focussed on illegal Bangladeshis, the state government has decided to broad base its action to cover not just illegal immigrants - Bangladeshis included, but against all foreigners overstaying their visas.

Accordingly, all foreigners who have violated their visa and entry permit conditions will be deported from the state. Karnataka state police has identified 107 nationals from countries in African continent for this exercise and they will be deported at government cost, noted home minister G Parameshwara. “We will ensure that these nationals board the flight with tickets purchased for them,” Parameshwara, also deputy chief minister said.

Interacting with reporters on Friday, Parameshwara said 107 nationals were identified during a statewide crackdown on drugs. “Preparations are underway to deport these nationals,” he said, adding state government will take steps to recover the cost incurred from the respective Embassies and Consulates. Each of these cases has been scrutinized at the highest level and the effort is to see these nationals do not remain in India, he noted.

Asserting that thrust of deportation effort was to ensure that only foreigners with valid papers stayed in Karnataka, Parameshwara said it covered Bangladeshis, whose stay had raised the heckles of political parties and security agencies concerned. Incidentally, H D Kumaraswamy had flagged the issue of illegal Bangladeshi residents in Karnataka in 2015 and state BJP leaders too had raised their presence with union home minister Rajnath Singh .

