Bengaluru Police Detain West Bengal Man Days After Karnataka High Court Affirms His Indian Voter Identity
A 32-year-old native of West Bengal who had secured relief from the High Court of Karnataka was detained once again by the Bengaluru City police during an anti-immigrant operation, just four days after the court verified his voter identity card as genuine.
What Happened
Rafikul Biswas, originally from Nadia district in West Bengal and a resident of Bengaluru for 12 years, was detained by Bandepalya police on August 8 under “Operation Mukta,” a city police drive aimed at detecting undocumented immigrants. This detention occurred shortly after the High Court of Karnataka quashed an earlier case against him on August 4, holding that his Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC), issued following the Special Intensive Revision in West Bengal, was authentic.
According to Biswas, the ordeal began 11 months prior when an unidentified person created a fraudulent Bangladeshi identity card bearing his name, leading to allegations that he was an undocumented immigrant. Biswas stated that during the August 8 detention, he showed police personnel the High Court order. He was released later the same day after social activists intervened and presented the ruling to the authorities.
Key Highlights
- Court Verification: The Karnataka High Court concluded that Biswas's voter card from West Bengal was genuine, leading to the dismissal of an earlier detention case.
- Subsequent Detention: Four days after the court relief, Biswas was detained during Bengaluru police's “Operation Mukta.”
- Intervention by West Bengal Authorities: Previous court proceedings involved scrutiny of his family background and intervention by the then Trinamool Congress-led West Bengal government.
- Health and Livelihood Impact: Biswas reported suffering two heart attacks during the 11-month ordeal, including one while in jail that required hospitalization at Jayadeva Hospital. He also lost his employment as a private school bus driver and took up collecting scrap to support his family.
Why This Matters
The incident highlights the administrative and physical challenges faced by internal migrant workers when questions surrounding citizenship arise. Despite securing a High Court ruling and possessing official documentation, Biswas reported facing repeated scrutiny, police actions, and social hostility when identifying his state of origin.
What to Watch Next
Biswas and his family, who relocated to Bengaluru so that both spouses could work and their daughter could access education, continue to reside in the city. The source material does not outline further formal legal appeals or additional operational measures regarding his status beyond his release following activist intervention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Rafikul Biswas detained again after the court order?
Biswas was taken into custody during “Operation Mukta,” an initiative launched by the Bengaluru City police targeting suspected illegal immigrants, despite carrying a copy of the Karnataka High Court ruling that had cleared his previous detention.
How was Biswas released from the second detention?
He was released on August 8 after local activists engaged with the police and explained the details of the recent High Court ruling that validated his documentation.
What led to the initial accusations against Biswas?
Biswas stated that an unknown party forged a Bangladeshi identification card in his name 11 months prior, prompting allegations of foreign citizenship and threats of deportation.
Source: Reported based on accounts published by The Hindu.