In the shadow of Bengaluru's tech hub, a police crackdown on illegal garbage operations has left hundreds of migrant workers from West Bengal gripping their identity cards a little tighter. Operation Mukta, aimed at tracking undocumented immigrants, has inadvertently stirred deep anxiety among 400 people in Hulimangala who now wonder if their homes and livelihoods are at risk.

  • 400 migrant workers from West Bengal reside in Hulimangala, near Electronics City
  • Police served show-cause notices to landlords citing health, sanitation, and lack of permissions for garbage segregation units
  • Workers include waste collectors, construction laborers, daily-wage workers, domestic help, and security guards
  • Many have lived there for over a decade, with some recalling a similar situation four years ago

A Community on Edge

For years, these workers have built makeshift homes using their savings, settling close to workplaces where they sort garbage, labor on construction sites, or guard buildings. Now, with police visiting daily and landlords under scrutiny, the air hums with unease. "We have lived in this city for the past 11 years," said Allauddin, a waste segregator. "Where should we go? We have no other place to live."

Identity Under Question

Even with valid documents, many report being repeatedly asked to prove they are Indian—not Bangladeshi—simply for speaking Bengali. One worker, who wished to remain unnamed, described the frustration: "We carry our ID cards with us all the time. Even some locals suspect us... We have all the records and are not from Bangladesh, but we are repeatedly being targeted." The fear isn't new; some remember a near-identical scare four years ago, narrowly avoided then by human rights intervention.

"We have lived in this city for the past 11 years, working as garbage segregators and collectors under contractors. Now, the police come here every day asking us to vacate. Where should we go?" — Allauddin, a worker

Official Stance: Targeting Mafia, Not Migrants

Electronics City DCP M. Narayana insists the operation isn't about evicting workers. "There is no forced eviction," he clarified. "The police action is against an illegal garbage mafia operating in and around the area." Notices seek explanations from unlicensed units, with further action pending replies. But for those caught in the middle, the distinction feels thin, and the future uncertain.