First detention centre opens in Karnataka

Bengaluru: Amid nation-wide protests over the controversial citizenship law, the first detention centre in Karnataka, reportedly meant to lodge illegal immigrants and migrants overstaying in the country, has been opened in Sondekoppa village.

The facility with several rooms, a kitchen and toilets has been kept ready on the directions of the government, a social welfare department official said. However, Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai objected to the term ‘Detention Centre’. On Tuesday, he had said, “In qualified terms, it is not a detention centre. There is no purpose per se to detain someone on the issue of citizenship.”

He ruled out that the centre has been operationalised. “.. please check with the social welfare department. At least I have no information that it has started. If at all it has been operationalised then there should be some detenue there? No one is there,” he said. Bommai said the purpose to keep the facility



ready was to lodge African nationals overstaying in India and indulging in drug peddling. He said their illegal activities create a law and order situation in the country. “It is only to keep them (African nationals) there and send them back to their nation,” he added.

A social welfare department officer, on condition of anonymity, said that they have got the direction to keep the ‘Central Relief Centre’ ready before January 1. The 20-year-old building was a hostel for more than 18 years for the poor and downtrodden community but, it was lying vacant for almost two years waiting for the habitants. He said, “Food, accommodation and clothes will be provided to the detenus by our Social Welfare Department.”

Foreign Regional Registration Officer Labhu Ram, said, “Please check with the Social Welfare Department. The detention centre is looked after by the social welfare department.”