Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: More than 250 migrant workers travelling towards Goa were briefly detained at the Gokul Road Bus Stand in Karnataka on Saturday after suspicions were raised that they could be Bangladeshi nationals allegedly entering the country illegally. All of them were later cleared following verification.
The group, comprising workers from West Bengal, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, was stopped after local organisations alerted authorities, claiming that a large number of labourers boarding Goa-bound buses appeared suspicious.
Police from Gokul Road station immediately intervened and halted their movement, following which senior officers and revenue officials conducted detailed document verification. Aadhaar and EPIC cards, along with other identity proofs, were examined.
Officials stated that the workers were travelling towards Goa for employment opportunities but were stranded in Hubballi after disruption of train services due to line-blocking work, forcing them to continue their journey by road.
During the verification process, local MLA Mahesh Tenginkai visited the spot and called for a thorough investigation into suspected illegal immigration. The incident triggered heightened concern over possible cross-border infiltration routes being used through interstate migrant movement.
However, police later confirmed that all individuals were Indian nationals. In some cases, families were contacted for additional confirmation before the group was allowed to proceed towards Goa.
Goa STF on High Alert Over Possible Illegal Bangladeshi Infiltration
Meanwhile, security agencies in Goa have been placed on high alert, with the Special Task Force (STF) stepping up vigilance across all districts to detect and verify suspected illegal Bangladeshi nationals in the state.
Officials said there is concern that individuals allegedly staying illegally in West Bengal may attempt to relocate to other states, including Goa, amid changing political and administrative scenarios, using migrant labour networks and transport routes.
As part of the high alert measures, Goa STF is coordinating closely with the Railway Protection Force (RPF) to monitor incoming trains from West Bengal and other eastern states. Special focus is being placed on identifying passengers suspected of travelling without valid documentation.
Security agencies have intensified checks at entry points, railway stations and labour congregation areas as part of a preventive strategy to ensure verification of migrant influx into the state.
Authorities reiterated that the objective is to ensure proper identification of all incoming workers and prevent any misuse of interstate migration routes.
In a related case, a smaller group of migrant workers travelling towards Belagavi was also briefly detained for verification and later released after being confirmed as Indian citizens.
