Bengaluru Police arrest three Bangladeshi persons for staying illegally in India

Crime

Previously, in October 2019, police had detained 60 such illegal immigrants.

TNM Staff

Police in Bengaluru on Tuesday arrested a family of three persons whom they found to be Bangladeshi citizens staying illegally in India. The arrests were made in Munnekolala near Whitefield, in the eastern fringe of the city. The accused have been identified as 55-year-old Mohammed Lokman, a resident of Boresel village of Pirojpur district in Bangladesh. His wife, 35-year-old Jasmin Begum and their 22-year-old son Raasel, were the other two arrested. Whitefield DCP Anuchet told The Hindu that the trio admitted to being Bangladeshis following the arrest and police have also recovered Bangladeshi identity cards from them including a national ID card and birth certificates. The three have been booked by Marathahalli police under the Foreigners Act. Incidentally, this arrest comes after Marathahalli police and some BBMP officials led a demolition drive recently on a private land near Sakra Hospital within the Whitefield subdivision over claims of illegal immigrants living there. However, following criticism from activists on ground and media scrutiny, the BBMP Commissioner said the demolitions were illegal and unauthorised. Narayan Swamy, Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE), Mahadevapura Zone has been transferred out of the BBMP and disciplinary action will be recommended against him.  All the residents there were found to be blue collar workers who had migrated from north Karnataka or other parts of the country like Assam, West Bengal. Previously, police had detained 60 such suspects in October 2019 and at a press conference led by City Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao, the police said that these suspected illegal immigrants were living in shanties in peripheral areas of the city falling under Ramamurthynagar, Bellandur and Marathahalli police station limits. Police had then said that the Foreigner’s Regional Registration Office was informed and the people will be handed over to the Border Security Force (BSF), who will deport them to Bangladesh instead of them facing arrest by the city police.  That time, the drive was led by the Central Crime Branch police who were probing the issue of illegal migrants after an intelligence report. Police had then said many of the detained were employed as daily wage labourers and worked either in the construction sector or collected scraps. Some of them were also employed by contractors of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).

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Thousands gather in Kalaburagi in large anti-CAA-NRC protests rally

CAA

The protest rally were followed by a massive public meeting in which senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, CPIM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, ex-CM HD Kumaraswamy and Swami Agnivesh particiapated.

IANS

Twitter/ @ThePeopleOfIN

Thousands of people protested against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) here and urged the Central government to repeal it, the police said on Tuesday. "About 75,000 people from the city and nearby areas assembled at the KCT College grounds to participate in a massive event organised by the Karnataka People's Forum to protest against the CAA and the National Register of Citizens (NRC)," Kalaburagi Police Commissioner MN Nagaraj told IANS over phone. Kalaburagai is about 600km north of Bengaluru. "The protest rally and demonstration were followed by a massive public meeting in which senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, state's former Janata Dal-Secular  Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and Swami Agnivesh participated and spoke against CAA and NRC," said Nagaraj. Clarifying that the extended college grounds have a capacity to accommodate about 1 lakh people, the police chief refuted claims on social media that about six lakh people attended the event. "It is an exaggeration to say there were six lakh people at the venue, as the population of the city and its surroundings is itself around 5.5 lakh. My estimate is about 70,000-75,000 people were present for the four-hour long event, which was extended by an hour beyond the three-hour permission," Nagaraj, who was present at the spot, asserted. Terming the CAA anti-people, Kharge told the gathering that people across the country would not rest till the draconian law was withdrawn. "The people will also not allow the extension of NRC across the country from Assam where it was imposed against the will of its citizens," noted Kharge, who was a two-time Lok Sabha member from the Gulbarga constituency till April 2019. Accusing the BJP-led NDA government of polarising the people, Yechury said in Hindi that CAA and NRC were designed to isolate deprived communities and make them feel like "paraiah" (outcast) within the country. "The intention of CAA and NRC is to isolate Muslims, Dalits, Adivasis, nomadic tribes and downtrodden communities, which have been marginalised and suppressed," Yechury said. Terming the NRC as communal, Kumaraswamy said its proposed extension to other states would deny the people the right to live though they are citizens of the country since birth.  

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Bengaluru Shivajinagar market shuts down as traders join protest against NRC-CAA

CAA

The protesters were joined by senior Congress MLA and ex-minister Zameer Ahmed Khan and Shivajinagar MLA Rizwan Arshad briefly too.

Soumya Chatterjee

Bengaluru’s Shivajinagar is typically bustling with activity on a weekday morning, but there was a lull in business on Tuesday as many shops surrounding the Russell Market closed on Monday for a protest rally against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR) organised by the Muslim Jamaats Joint Action Committee.  Road closures were put in place as police expected the crowd to hamper traffic movement on the road leading from Shivajinagar Bus Stand to Russell Market. Similar closures were instituted on the HKP Road. The protesters were joined by senior Congress MLA and ex-minister Zameer Ahmed Khan and Shivajinagar MLA Rizwan Arshad briefly as well. The organisers reminded those present there that this was the 41st day of protests against the NRC and the CAA, and that they will continue the same until action is taken. Almost all shops and stores on Chandni Chowk Road, HKP Road, MF Norrona and Broadway Road among others were closed for business. Instead many shopkeepers and traders in the area — big and small — were present with placards in their hands or waving the national flag joining the protests. Ishar Ahmed, who owns a paan shop in the area, said he is the sole earner of his family and had joined the protests along with the rest of the traders against the “black law” of CAA and the proposed NRC. “When the government lies, people will be forced into streets like this. Is it not true that only one community is being targeted?” There were a series of speeches criticising the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government for “dividing people in the name of religion” instead of focussing on developmental politics. Subodh Kumar, a migrant from Bihar, who owns a small bag shop in the area, also joined the protests and said he was there as an Indian and not as a Hindu or representing any other religion. He said, “It is not necessary that I am against the BJP but we came to know what happened in Assam. Are all 19 lakh people who were kept out (in Assam) outsiders? If the government is serious about fighting infiltrators, then they should seal the borders properly.” He added, “If not for the government’s hardline decision on this issue, people would be running their businesses as usual and the economy could have benefitted.” Another protester, Nayeem Ziah, who works as an executive in the health care sector, said, “I am here today taking leave as I want to save the secular fabric of the nation. I don’t want a country that is undemocratic for my children and for me. And this is the time we all shall stand up against tyranny. I don’t expect we will get relief anytime soon and we should be prepared to carry our protests for a long time.”  The speeches from the dais were punctuated by rounds of sloganeering by the organisers and the protesters.  One of the speakers, Dr Vasu HV of the Karnataka Janashakti criticised Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya for his ‘puncturewallah’ speech. On December 23, Tejasvi while addressing a pro-CAA rally had said, “People of Bengaluru’s IT sector, BT sector, those contributing to the nation’s economy like lawyers, bank employees and ordinary citizens, including auto-rickshaw drivers, have gathered here today. Only the uneducated, illiterate puncture shop wallahs are against it.” Slamming the MP, Dr Vasu said, “In every corner of this nation, people are fighting to save the Constitution of this country. But the Prime Minister and the BJP leaders are unable to figure out what is happening. Tejasvi Surya says that 'puncturewallahs' are protesting. But there is some truth in what he is saying. They are puncturing the nation and we are fixing that puncture on the country and the humanity of this country. There is no love but only hatred in what Tejasvi says but on the streets here, among the protesters, there is truth and love.”

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First case of deadly China virus identified in U.S.

Scientists are expected to announce that the deadly coronavirus is spreading through human-to-human contact.

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Over 150 lawyers offer to appear for K’taka student booked for ‘Free Kashmir’ poster

Controversy

The Mysuru Bar Association had passed a resolution not to represent Nalini, who faces charges of sedition for holding up the ‘Free Kashmir’ poster at an anti-CAA protest.

TNM Staff

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Over 150 lawyers from across Karnataka on Tuesday signed a vakalatnama to appear for Nalini Balakumar, the former Mysuru University student who is facing sedition charges for holding a “Free Kashmir” placard at an anti-CAA protest. A vakalatnama is a legal document that empowers a lawyer to act for and on behalf of the client.  Advocate Anis Pasha, who is the President of the People's Lawyers Guild and Srinivas Kumar, Secretary of All India Lawyers Union, were among signatories on the vakalatnama.  This vakalatnama comes after a week after the Mysuru Bar Association passed a resolution not to represent the former Mysuru University student who is facing sedition charges for holding a “Free Kashmir” placard during an anti-CAA protest at the university campus.   Following the move by the Mysuru Bar Association, many lawyers in Bengaluru had released a collective statement condemning the move by the Mysuru Bar Association. They said such decision of the Bar Association is not only against professional ethics and the duties of lawyers under the Bar Council of India Rules but also as being ‘antithetical’ to the values embedded in the Constitution of India. It may be recalled that the police in Mysuru had booked Nalini and organisers of the protest against sedition after videos of the placard were circulated. Nalini was granted interim bail by a Mysuru court on January 11 after she furnished a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh. The next date for hearing the case has been fixed on January 24. Till the case is disposed of, she can’t leave the jurisdiction of the court as part of her bail conditions. According to media reports, five lawyers appeared for Nalini during Monday’s hearing, which was adjourned shortly as the prosecution sought more time. Among them, four lawyers were from Bengaluru and one advocate was from Davangere. The police have confirmed no arrests have been made in the case.

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After unauthorised demolition drive in B'luru, landowners divided over evicting migrants

Demolition

A BJP MLA has targeted the settlement calling the people living there 'Bangladeshis', though it has been proved that almost all residents were from different states of India.

Prajwal Bhat

It has been two days since an unauthorised demolition drive by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in the migrant settlements in Kariyammana Agrahara and Devarabeesanahalli in Bengaluru left hundreds of people homeless. "Many people staying in this settlement have left because their huts were demolished. There are others who have left because they fear that the demolitions will continue and affect them in the future. The people who have left are camped in roadside sheds in Bellandur and Marathahalli or are in rented rooms. Some others have left the place and moved away from this area," Mohammed Ahad-ul, a 20-year-old resident of the settlement told TNM. Though BBMP Commissioner has agreed that the demolition was illegal, there is much pressure on the agency from various sides. A BJP MLA targeted the settlement calling the people living there 'Bangladeshis', though it has been proved that almost all residents were from different states of India. Many apartment dwellers nearby want the settlement removed as they allege it is on the Bellandur lake bed. Even as the future of the residents of the settlement are up in the air, landowners are divided over whether they will evict them. A landowner of one of these plots in Kariyammana Agrahara told TNM that he plans to vacate residents staying in sheds in his expanse of quarter-acre of land. "I will vacate the people staying on my land now that this issue has come to light. I don't want them there anymore because if the officials or police have an issue, I will be the one affected by it," says a landowner who owns around a quarter acre land in Kariyammana Agrahara.  On the quarter-acre stretch of land owned by the landowner, residents from states like Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal were found to be staying.  The land owner, who bought the land a year ago, says that he is paid Rs 25,000 as rent by a 'supervisor' every month. The 'supervisor' is an intermediary who collects the rent from the tenants and pays a fixed amount to the landowner. Rent is collected from residents staying in the sheds and the amount ranges from Rs 500 to Rs 2000 per month.  Meanwhile, another landowner, Gopinath, says that he will work out an agreement with the residents staying in sheds on his stretch of land. Gopinath owns 14 gunta area of land in Devarabeesanahalli and residents on this stretch are mostly from northern Karnataka. "I have told the people staying on this land that we will work out an agreement and we will tell police that everyone here is from Karnataka," says Gopinath. The settlement in Devarabeesanahalli is located 1 km away from Kariyammana Agrahara close to Sakra World Hospital.  He adds that he is paid Rs 700 per shed every month. In each of the sheds, multiple people reside.    Both landowners told TNM that they were unaware of electrical and water supply connections arranged in the sheds by residents living there. "I don't know how they have arranged water and electricity supply for the sheds," says a landowner. BBMP officials have also raised the issue of how electrical connections were set up in these migrant settlements. "Our electricity lines and water supply was cut off last week. We have been arranging water through tankers for the settlement. Now, we are unsure if we will be allowed to live here," says Mohammed Ahad-ul, a resident in the settlement. Activists say that residents in the settlements were not provided basic amenities by the BBMP.  A petition was filed in the Karnataka High Court on Monday by People's Union for Civil Liberties against the eviction-demolition drive of Indian citizens.  "After studying the documents of those residing in the settlement it was found that none of the residents were Bangaladeshis, but they were largely from North Karnataka, and several of them are also from Assam, Tripura, West Bengal, and Bihar," Vinay Sreenivasa, an advocate with Alternative Law Forum (ALF) in Bengaluru. In a police notice to the landowners, dated January 11, it said that illegal sheds have been constructed in the area behind Mantri Espana apartment survey number 35/2 without any permission from the government. “In these sheds, Bangladeshi nationals are sheltered outside the scope of the law, without providing any documents. By constructing sheds and providing illegal electricity, it is illegal to stay outside the scope of the law.”   Also read: Demolition in Bengaluru migrant colony over ‘Bangladeshi’ fears unauthorised, says BBMP

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‘Cong not opposing NPR as they introduced it’: Kavita Krishnan at Bengaluru anti-CAA meet

CAA

The public meeting to protest against CAA, NRC and NPR was held at in Jayanagar on Monday, right opposite the office of BJP MP Tejasvi Surya.

Alithea Stephanie Mounika

Continuing their protests demanding the repeal of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR), scores of people turned up for a public meeting in Jayanagar on Monday, right opposite the office of BJP MP Tejasvi Surya. The crowd sat at the Shalini Grounds in Jayanagar — many holding the Indian flags and others holding placards like ‘Give us jobs! Not NPR-NRC-CAA’ — eager to hear what local leaders thought about the controversial citizenship laws and exercises. However, the biggest draw was the activist Kavita Krishnan. Speaking to the crowd, Kavita pointed out how the energy of the protesters has not diminished, and that victory to the protesters is imminent. “People keep asking me, do you think you are making any difference through your protests? What will you get? But I am asking you, a year, or even six months ago, did you think that the whole country will unite and come out to protest like this? Not me. But people kept coming out. This, in itself, is a huge victory!” She spoke about the Union government’s response to the protests. “Amit Shah is saying that they won’t take a single step back. But they have gone back, a considerable amount of kilometres back, while we keep going ahead, determined that we will not step back until our Constitution is saved.” Kavita questioned the government’s denial that they ever spoke about NRC. “How have they backed down? Narendra Modi, in his recent speeches, said that he never said anything about NRC. But they were the ones who were talking about the chronology and proclaiming that they will implement NRC across the nation.” She explained why it is important to understand NPR, and not to comply with it. “The NPR is the first step towards NRC. It is a process that began with the Congress, which is why they are not opposing it, like they should be. But we need to be aware, and not show our papers,” she said, amidst slogans of ‘hum khaagaz nahi dikaaenge’ (we will not show our papers). Giving an example of Shaheen Bagh in New Delhi, she said that protesters, irrespective of the weather or other conditions, have been energising her to continue her protests. “Will the women sitting in Shaheen go home? No! We won’t stop protesting until we get their demands, and save the Constitution,” she added Some of the people gathered at the protest meet were also hoping to listen to eminent social activist and freedom fighter, HS Doreswamy. However, he was unable to attend as he has been hospitalised, said the organisers. Watch: What is CAA and how is it linked to NPR, NRC? Lawyer Gautam Bhatia explains     Protests against CAA and NRC are still on. TNM explains why Protests against CAA and NRC are still on. TNM explains why Posted by TheNewsMinute on Monday, December 23, 2019  

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