'Unchecked movement of B'deshis': BJP leader flags security concerns over Bengal-B'luru rail corridor
Bengaluru, Jan 15 : Karnataka BJP leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy on Thursday flagged national security concerns over West Bengal-Bengaluru rail connectivity and appealed to Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw over the alleged unchecked movement of Bangladeshis.
Narayanaswamy, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, stated in his letter: “I am writing to bring to your immediate attention a matter of grave concern regarding the potential compromise of national security through the current operation of rail services between West Bengal and Bengaluru.”
“The integrity of our borders and the safety of our cities depend on the vigilance of the Indian Railways. I urge you to treat this as a high-priority national security issue and take decisive action to control and monitor these transit routes. I look forward to your action in safeguarding our nation,” he stated.
“As you are aware, there are currently 15 to 17 weekly and daily train services (including the Howrah/Sealdah to Yesvantpur/Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal routes) connecting these two regions. While these services are vital for the economy, there is growing evidence and public concern that these corridors are being exploited for the unchecked movement of illegal immigrants, specifically those originating from across the international border,” he stated.
Reports indicate that many individuals travelling on these routes possess Aadhaar cards and voter IDs obtained through fraudulent means. Recent judicial observations, including those from the Bombay High Court, have clarified that these documents are not proof of citizenship, yet they are being used to bypass local security checks, he said.
Bengaluru has become a major hub for labour colonies where illegal settlers are reportedly residing under the guise of being migrants from West Bengal and the Northeast. Recent police crackdowns in January 2026 have already identified numerous individuals with forged documents, Narayanaswamy pointed out.
The sheer volume of passengers makes it difficult for the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the GRP to conduct thorough background checks during transit, effectively creating a “green corridor” for unauthorised entry into southern India, he said.
He demanded implementation of a specialised verification drive at major boarding and deboarding points (Howrah, Malda Town, Kharagpur, and Bengaluru terminals) involving biometric cross-referencing.
“Re-evaluate the necessity of the high number of weekly services on this specific corridor to better manage security monitoring. Deploy undercover RPF and Intelligence Bureau (IB) personnel on these specific trains to monitor and identify suspicious movement patterns. Link railway reservation systems with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and other national databases to flag individuals with questionable documentation,” he demanded.
Narayanaswamy, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, stated in his letter: “I am writing to bring to your immediate attention a matter of grave concern regarding the potential compromise of national security through the current operation of rail services between West Bengal and Bengaluru.”
“The integrity of our borders and the safety of our cities depend on the vigilance of the Indian Railways. I urge you to treat this as a high-priority national security issue and take decisive action to control and monitor these transit routes. I look forward to your action in safeguarding our nation,” he stated.
“As you are aware, there are currently 15 to 17 weekly and daily train services (including the Howrah/Sealdah to Yesvantpur/Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal routes) connecting these two regions. While these services are vital for the economy, there is growing evidence and public concern that these corridors are being exploited for the unchecked movement of illegal immigrants, specifically those originating from across the international border,” he stated.
Reports indicate that many individuals travelling on these routes possess Aadhaar cards and voter IDs obtained through fraudulent means. Recent judicial observations, including those from the Bombay High Court, have clarified that these documents are not proof of citizenship, yet they are being used to bypass local security checks, he said.
Bengaluru has become a major hub for labour colonies where illegal settlers are reportedly residing under the guise of being migrants from West Bengal and the Northeast. Recent police crackdowns in January 2026 have already identified numerous individuals with forged documents, Narayanaswamy pointed out.
The sheer volume of passengers makes it difficult for the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the GRP to conduct thorough background checks during transit, effectively creating a “green corridor” for unauthorised entry into southern India, he said.
He demanded implementation of a specialised verification drive at major boarding and deboarding points (Howrah, Malda Town, Kharagpur, and Bengaluru terminals) involving biometric cross-referencing.
“Re-evaluate the necessity of the high number of weekly services on this specific corridor to better manage security monitoring. Deploy undercover RPF and Intelligence Bureau (IB) personnel on these specific trains to monitor and identify suspicious movement patterns. Link railway reservation systems with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and other national databases to flag individuals with questionable documentation,” he demanded.