Keonjhar a haven for Bangladeshi infiltrators

Keonjhar: In the wake of four foreign nationals fleeing a hotel in Bhubaneswar on Republic Day eve sending the commissionerate police in a tizzy, the rising number of Bangladeshi intruders in Odisha, particularly in Keonjhar district, has become the headache for the administration.

An OTV exclusive report says more than thousands of Bangladesi nationals have been staying at Islampur slum which comes under Keonjhar block and more than hundreds are living behind the PWD office in the district. These illegal immigrants have been staying here for more 15 years now and that too with constructing well furnished buildings.

The report also revealed that these Bangladeshi nationals have constructed their houses on plot number 395, 2000 and 2023 which belong to state government.

“We have been staying here for more than 25 years without having a patta. Nobody has a patta here,” said Rehma Bibi, a slum dweller.

Asked about the matter, Keonjhar ADM Sangram Keshari Swain said the Bangladeshi nationals have illegally encroached government land. The district administration has served notice on them and asked them to vacate the area.”

"We have also asked thesildars to look into the matter and initiate action if found they are staying in the government land", the ADM added.

Notably, the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Commissionerate Police on January 20 had arrested Mohammad Bashir, a Bangladesi national while he was trying to apply for an Indian passport in Bhubaneswar.

On the next day, police again arrested five of his associates, including four Bangladesh nationals from Jajpur district.