Bengaluru All Set to Open First Detention Centre for 'Illegal Immigrants' From January 1 Amid CAA And NRC Row
Amid the controversy over the CAA and NRC gaining momentum in the country, reports are coming from Bengaluru that the security security towers at two corners and the barbed wires on the walls have been constructed near Sondekoppa village. The L-shaped building with seven rooms, a kitchen and bathrooms, including 15 rooms -- is all set to open on January 1.
Bengaluru, December 23: Amid the controversy over the Citizenship Amendment Act and National Register of Citizens gaining momentum in the country, reports are coming from Bengaluru that the security security towers at two corners and the barbed wires on the walls of the building have been constructed near Sondekoppa village. The L-shaped building with seven rooms, a kitchen and bathrooms, including 15 rooms -- is all set to open on January 1.
According to report, published in the Indian Express, the secured building has been constructed 30 kilometres away from the state capital in Sondekoppa village. Among the facility for the illegal immigrants and official staff include a main building and an under-construction staff quarters. Also, the L-shaped building has seven rooms, a kitchen and bathrooms. Though the finishing touch are being applied for the grand inaugural -- set to be January 1 2020, policemen and the workers from Karnataka social welfare department can be seen walking around the green compound. PM Narendra Modi Defends Citizenship Amendment Act, Says 'No Indian Muslim Will Be Sent to Detention Centre'.
The detention centre for illegal immigrants has been readied by the Karnataka government after the directions from Ministry of Home Affairs. The BS Yediyurappa government had issued orders for state police to take custody of the building in November this year, following which policemen can be seen deployed at the gates.
It is to be known that the facility was earlier a hostel run by the social welfare department for students from backward classes, which has been turned into a detention centre facility for proven 'illegal immigrants'. The state has passed the order on December 9 to make it fully operational by 2020.
Informing more about the development, an official of social welfare department said, as quoted by the daily, "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."
As per the initial details, appointment of warden and assistant warden, a cook, a clerk and other staff for operating the centre has been done by the social welfare department. While police have allocated staff for security at the centre. Following the arrest of 15 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in August 2018, the Karnataka High Court has asked the state government to open the facility soon.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 23, 2019 07:59 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).