Bhubaneswar: After evading law enforcement for seven consecutive days, Sikandar Alam, the main accused of orchestrating a network to shelter Bangladeshi infiltrators in Odisha, was arrested by Jagatsinghpur Police in Jajpur district on November 22. The dramatic arrest followed a series of coordinated surveillance operations and strategic traps laid across multiple locations to track his movements.
Sikandar, along with his brother Abdul Motalif Khan, was apprehended in the Alkund area under Binjharpur police limits in Jajpur. The two had been hiding at the residence of a local driver, police officials confirmed. Their arrest marks a significant breakthrough in the state’s intensified crackdown on illegal infiltrators across coastal districts. Police took the two individuals to an undisclosed location for interrogation to investigate possible international links.
On November 17, Jagatsinghpur police registered a case against five individuals, including three women, under multiple sections of the BNS for encroaching on government land and harboring suspicious elements. Last week, two of the arrested women, who are Sikandar’s sisters, were taken into custody.
Passport recovered; Police examine suspected foreign links
During the arrest, police seized several incriminating documents from Sikandar, including his Indian passport. Investigators reported that during interrogation, Sikandar admitted to handing over his passport to his son. Further inquiry revealed that his son had passed the document to a friend, who allegedly buried it underground for concealment. The passport was subsequently recovered by the police.
Authorities suspect that Sikandar maintained links with external networks involved in facilitating the illegal entry, settlement, and sheltering of Bangladeshi nationals. Preliminary findings suggest that he constructed several unauthorized structures on government land in the Beherampur slum of Jagatsinghpur district, which were allegedly used to house foreign nationals without valid identity or travel documents. Police sources further indicated that a larger cluster of suspected Bangladeshi infiltrators had been operating from Pattamundai in Kendrapara district.
Search on for missing CCTV hard disk
Despite multiple searches, the hard disk of the CCTV system installed at Sikandar’s residence remains untraceable. Reliable sources informed investigators that the device may have been transferred to Pattamundai shortly before the crackdown began. With the possibility that the hard disk contains key digital evidence including movement logs and visitor records a special police team is being assembled to initiate a focused search operation in the region.
Officials stated that retrieving the hard disk is a priority, as it could provide clarity on the extent of Sikandar’s network and identify additional collaborators or beneficiaries of the illegal shelter operation.
Previous allegations: Illegal madrasa, Rescue of minors from Bihar
This is not the first time Sikandar has come under police scrutiny. Several months ago, law enforcement agencies raided an illegal madrasa allegedly operated by him in the same locality. During that operation, multiple minor boys from Bihar were rescued, raising serious concerns about trafficking, unlawful confinement, and possible radicalization efforts. Since then, police had been closely monitoring Sikandar’s activities, culminating in the recent crackdown following actionable intelligence
Illegal structures demolished; Arms seized during November 16 operation
Just days before his arrest, on November 16, Jagatsinghpur Police launched a major operation in Tarikund Berahimpur, where Sikandar had reportedly constructed 10 illegal asbestos-roofed structures on encroached government land. All the structures were demolished, and a cache of weapons—including a country-made pistol and several sharp weapons—was recovered from the site.
During the same operation, an additional seven unauthorized temporary houses were demolished. These locations were suspected of being used as hideouts or temporary shelters for illegal migrants.
27 suspected Bangladeshi nationals sent to shelter for verification
As part of the coordinated crackdown, 27 individuals—including men, women, and children—were relocated to a cyclone shelter at Biridi Bagalpur for identity verification. Police officials stated that these individuals were living in the demolished structures and lacked valid documentation. Their citizenship status is currently being investigated through a multi-agency verification process.
Coastal crackdown intensifies: DIG speaks on large-scale operation
Meanwhile, Odisha Police have increased surveillance and enforcement across all coastal districts amid rising concerns regarding illegal migration. Eastern Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Pinak Mishra confirmed that the state government has directed all districts to intensify verification, eviction, and monitoring drives.
According to DIG Mishra, individuals without valid identity documents or lawful residence papers are being classified as illegal infiltrators. He noted that the campaign is being executed cautiously due to the technical and legal complexities involved in verifying foreign nationals.
The DIG further highlighted that five marine police stations operate across Bhadrak and Balasore districts, with two of them actively participating in the ongoing crackdown. Marine police personnel—assisted by local fishing communities—are conducting shoreline surveillance and reporting suspicious movements.
Drone-assisted monitoring has been deployed to enhance vigilance along the coast, and security inspections have been upgraded in vulnerable areas. In Bhadrak district’s Basudevpur block, the Kashia Marine Police jurisdiction is witnessing intensified ground operations.
“Ensuring proper documentation is our priority”: DIG Mishra
DIG Mishra emphasized that the campaign aims to ensure complete documentation of all residents in coastal regions while maintaining law and order. He added that the state government intends to conduct the operation with transparency, sensitivity, and strict adherence to legal guidelines.
The arrest of Sikandar Alam, accused of providing shelter to Bangladeshi nationals and constructing illegal settlements to facilitate their stay, marks a significant step in Odisha’s ongoing campaign against unauthorized foreign occupation.
With foreign links suspected, evidence missing, and multiple accomplices still under scrutiny, police officials indicated that the investigation is far from over, and more arrests may follow in the coming days.
