BHUBNESHWAR: Odisha’s ongoing crackdown on illegal infiltration intensified this week with back-to-back operations in Jagatsinghpur and Bhadrak, leading to the detention of 30 suspected Bangladeshi nationals. The coordinated actions, carried out within a span of 24 hours, highlight renewed concerns over the settling of unauthorised foreign nationals in coastal and semi-urban regions of the state.
Fresh Raids in Jagatsinghpur: 21 Detained From Dariapur–Tarikund Belt
In a sweeping late-night raid on December 3, Jagatsinghpur Police detained 21 individuals including 15 adults and six minors from Dariapur and Tarikund under Sadar police limits. The operation, which began around 9:30 pm, was launched after intelligence inputs pointed to the resurgence of suspected Bangladeshi nationals in the area just 15 days after a similar crackdown.
The raid was led by Additional Superintendent of Police Satyabrata Das and SDPO Ajinkya Mane, who were supported by multiple officers and a full platoon force. Police teams moved through residential clusters identified during earlier surveillance and inspected a local madrasa suspected of sheltering foreign nationals.
Fifteen men and women reportedly carrying suspicious identity papers were detained. Six minor children staying in the madrasa hostel under the pretext of religious studies were also taken into custody for verification. All 21 detainees were moved to the police barracks for thorough interrogation regarding their nationality, route of entry, and possible facilitation networks.
Sources at the site indicated that more than 10 individuals may have fled moments before the arrival of the police, though the district authorities have not officially confirmed this.
This operation comes in the backdrop of a similar raid conducted on November 16 at Beherampur, near Tarikund, where several suspected Bangladeshi nationals managed to escape. Police detained Abdul Motalif and sisters Parveen Bibi and Sawan Azmi after they allegedly obstructed the enforcement team. Officers seized a country-made firearm and multiple sharp weapons from the location. Parveen Bibi and Sawan Azmi were later arrested.
A day after that raid, the authorities demolished the illegally constructed house of Sikandar Alam, believed to be sheltering infiltrators. On November 22, Sikandar and his brother were arrested from Jajpur, following which 20 other suspects were shifted to the detention centre in Athgarh. However, the resurfacing of foreign nationals in the same locality — despite previous enforcement — has deepened concerns among residents and police alike.
Nine More Detained in Bhadrak: Coastal Security Under Tight Scrutiny
While Jagatsinghpur police conducted their operation inland, another major crackdown unfolded along the Bhadrak coastline, where nine suspected Bangladeshi infiltrators were detained late Tuesday night.
The operation was personally supervised by Bhadrak Superintendent of Police Manoj Rout, who has intensified verification in coastal belts known to be vulnerable entry points due to porous sea routes.
Eight suspects were picked up from multiple locations under Basudevpur police limits, while one was detained from Tihidi. Senior officers accompanied SP Rout during the midnight raids to ensure coordinated checks of residential pockets, labour clusters, and fishing settlements.
According to officials, the detainees claimed to be Indian citizens, but inconsistencies in their identity documents raised suspicion. “Coastal security is a priority. Every suspicious individual in seaside villages is being verified thoroughly,” SP Rout said after examining the suspects at Basudevpur police station.
The Bhadrak coastline — covering Basudevpur, Tihidi, Chandbali, Dhamra, Chudamani, Kaithkhola and Chandinipal — has reportedly become a preferred hideout for infiltrators over recent years. Similar patterns have also been observed in neighbouring Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts.
Statewide Crackdown to Continue
The two coordinated operations one in the inland settlements of Jagatsinghpur and the other along the Bhadrak coastline together indicate a wider pattern of infiltration and unauthorised settlements across Odisha’s coastal belt.
Police officials confirmed that in both districts, detailed verification is underway, with the scrutiny focusing on identity documents, travel routes, local contacts, and any suspicious network facilitating their movement.
Officials said more operations are expected in the coming days in both coastal and semi-urban pockets, as part of the state’s ongoing efforts to identify and deport individuals residing in India without valid documentation.
The back-to-back detentions have reinforced the need for stronger vigilance mechanisms, particularly in vulnerable areas where suspected illegal settlers continue to emerge despite repeated enforcement action. Authorities emphasised that the verification drives will intensify further, with special focus on settlements flagged during intelligence monitoring and community inputs.
