Kendrapara: At a time when apprehension is being raised on the influx of evicted immigrants from Assam after more than 40 lakh people of the the north-eastern State were excluded in final draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in Odisha are worried lot due to the repatriation notice served to them.
While many Bangladeshi immigrants in Mahakalapada of Kendrapara are concerned that they would not be recognised as Indian citizens despite being born and brought up here, others complained that they would accept their fate if they are deported back.
Kusum Vaidya of Baulakani, a woman who was served a repatriation notice, said, “I have been staying here for so long. If the government does not want us to live here where will we go? I am born and brought up here and so why should I leave this country.”
Suman, a teacher by profession of Lunagheri said, “I have moved the Orissa High Court challenging the earlier notice in 2008. If I am deported this time then I will face the situation.
In 2004, the Home Ministry had served repatriation notice to 1551 persons of Baulakani panchayat out of which 331 were Bangladeshis. They were asked to leave the country in 30 days. However, their number has increased in past 14 years.
Haladhara Swain, former sarpanch of Baulakani said, “The number of illegal immigrants is not 331. The actual figure might be more than that. Besides no one has left the country and all of them are present in the district.”
Meanwhile, Kendrapara SP Niti Sekhar said police is on high alert to thwart intrusion of any kind.
“Police is keeping a vigil if any unidentified person lands here at the fishing points through waterways. Besides, cops have been asked to increase interaction with local population,” Sekhar added.