Eighteen Suspected Bangladeshis Detained in Bengaluru; Brought to Howrah
The group, who had been working as migrant laborers in the Karnataka capital for a long period, was brought to West Bengal’s Howrah station under heavy police escort on Tuesday afternoon, February 24, 2026. According to reports from Kolkata-based media outlets like Anandabazar Patrika, the detainees were transported via the Bengaluru-Howrah Duranti Express after failing to provide valid identity documents during questioning.
The crackdown began following intelligence reports and local surveillance that flagged the group's movements as suspicious. While many claimed to be residents of West Bengal, they were unable to produce Aadhaar cards, voter IDs, or other primary documents to verify their Indian citizenship. Police sources indicated that these individuals typically take up menial jobs or work in the informal labor sector to blend into the urban population. Upon arrival at Howrah station, they were taken into custody for further interrogation and verification by the state and railway police.
The future of the 18 detainees remains uncertain as authorities have not yet confirmed whether they will be formally pushed back across the border or held in a correctional facility. In similar past instances, such groups were handed over to the Border Security Force (BSF) for deportation after their nationality was confirmed through diplomatic channels. Neither the Bengaluru nor the West Bengal police have issued a detailed statement on the next steps, citing the sensitivity of the legal process involving the Foreigners Act.
