Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SHP)

Bengaluru, Dec 25: While the nation is engulfed in violence over the Citizenship Amendment Act, Karnataka's first detention centre has opened at Sondekoppa village, about 30 km from the capital city. The 'detention centre' would reportedly lodge illegal immigrants and migrants overstaying in the country.

A social welfare official stated that the facility has several rooms, a kitchen and toilets as per the directions of the government.

However, home minister Basavaraj has Bommai objected to the term 'detention centre. In a statement to the reporters on Tuesday, Bommai said, "In qualified terms, it is not a detention centre. There is no purpose per se to detain someone on the issue of citizenship."

Further, Bommai claimed that the facility was not operational. "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 detainee there? No one is there," he added.

According to Bommai, the purpose to keep the facility ready was to lodge African nationals overstaying in India and indulging in drug peddling. He asserted that 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 told PTI on condition of anonymity that they have got the direction to keep the ‘Central Relief Centre’ (CRC) ready before January 1.

The 20-year-old building was a hostel for more than 18 years for the poor and downtrodden community but as the number of students dwindled, it was lying vacant for almost two years waiting for the habitants, stated a PTI report.

Explaining the reason behind including the social welfare department in this project, the officer said, "Food, accommodation and clothes will be provided to the detainees by our social welfare department."

With PTI inputs