Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has taken a firm stance against illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators within the state. Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan announced a series of stringent measures designed to identify, monitor, and deport unauthorised foreign nationals. He stated that the government has initiated a coordinated verification process and is committed to pursuing this issue seriously in collaboration with central agencies.
Harichandan emphasised the administration’s dedication to ensuring public security and maintaining internal stability. “Infiltrators will be identified wherever they are staying. Their activities will be monitored, and appropriate action will be taken to deport them in accordance with legal procedures,” he declared.
He further noted that the state police and the Coast Guard are working together to enhance vigilance along Odisha’s coastline to prevent illegal entry via maritime routes. “Odisha’s coast is fully secure, but we are taking no chances. Surveillance has been intensified,” he affirmed.
The minister reiterated that the safety of Odisha’s citizens is the government’s top priority. Official sources suggest that the recent detentions and demolitions of alleged illegal settlements are just the beginning of a broader crackdown expected to expand significantly in the coming weeks.
Statewide Operations Begin After Arrest in Jagatsinghpur
This ongoing action follows the arrest of a suspected Bangladeshi national in Jagatsinghpur district earlier this week. The incident prompted state authorities to direct police departments across multiple districts to commence parallel operations aimed at identifying individuals who may have unlawfully entered the state.
Police officials have indicated that the instructions from the Home Department are clear: conduct thorough verifications, collect supporting documents, monitor suspicious activities, and take swift action in cases of discrepancies.
Extensive Verification Drive in Kendrapada
A significant part of the crackdown is taking place in Kendrapada district, where intelligence reports have indicated the presence of large clusters of suspected Bangladeshi nationals in the Mahakalapada and Rajnagar blocks. Acting on these alerts, police have commenced rigorous verification of migrant street vendors and daily wage workers living in various areas of Kendrapada town.
Under the direction of SP Siddharth Kataria, the Kendrapada Town Police have started checking identity documents, including Aadhaar cards, voter IDs, ration cards, and other papers. Police teams are also questioning landlords who have rented rooms to these individuals without proper verification. “We are recording details such as how long they have been working here, where they come from, and their local contacts,” said Town IIC Dilip Kumar Sahu.
Police sources report that the verification drive has been intensified across the district, and detailed reports will be submitted to the SP for further action.
Concerns Raised by the Presence of Numerous Infiltrators
Intelligence reports indicate that a significant number of suspected Bangladeshi nationals are residing in the Mahakalapada and Rajnagar blocks. Many of these individuals have reportedly managed to obtain voter identification cards, complicating the processes for verification and deportation.
In the past 48 hours, police have confirmed the presence of hundreds of suspected Bangladeshi nationals in areas under the jurisdiction of the Jambu and Tantiapal Marine Police Stations. These findings have been communicated to both state and central intelligence agencies.
To prevent further illegal entry, the waterways in Rajnagar and Mahakalapada, which are considered highly vulnerable infiltration routes, have been sealed. Additionally, ground-level blockades and highway checkpoints have been increased, as confirmed by SP Kataria.
Crackdown Expands to Bhadrak
In Bhadrak district, police have detained 17 suspicious youths who had reportedly been living in the town for several months while working as itinerant vendors. They had been under surveillance for a considerable period, and police are currently verifying their background and origin.
Officials state that the verification exercise will continue aggressively in the coming days, as the state government aims to identify every unauthorized foreign national residing in Odisha. The administration has made it clear that illegal settlers will not be permitted to remain, and deportation procedures will be carried out strictly in accordance with the law.
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