49 Bangladeshi nationals repatriated from Odisha after statewide crackdown: CM in Assembly

A total of 49 Bangladeshi nationals have been repatriated from Odisha following a statewide identification drive initiated after the formation of the current BJP-led government. According to a written statement tabled on Monday in the Legislative Assembly by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, 51 illegal Bangladeshi residents have been traced so far across the State.

Also Read: Kendrapara Police intensify checks following arrest of suspected Bangladeshi

Among them, 24 were detected in Khordha, 15 in Cuttack, 6 in Ganjam, 3 in Kandhamal, and 1 in Koraput. All 49 identified individuals have been sent back to Bangladesh. Two Bangladeshi infiltrators were also caught using forged passports, and cases have been registered against them.

The CM informed the House that a dedicated task committee has been constituted for the identification, detention, and deportation of Bangladeshi nationals. Strict instructions have been issued to all district Superintendents of Police (SPs) to intensify surveillance and verification across Odisha.

The State has set up 18 district-level detention centres and two state-level centres. So far, identity verification has been conducted for 1,768 suspects, of whom 51 were declared illegal residents. Verification of documents for 50 more suspects is currently underway.

A special mobile application is being used for real-time identification of infiltrators, and senior intelligence officers are inspecting districts considered vulnerable to illegal entry.

Worth mentioning, earlier in another incident, Kendrapara police had stepped up security across the district on November 17 after the arrest of a suspected Bangladeshi national in neighbouring Jagatsinghpur triggered tension in the region.

Security forces had launched stringent checking drives across multiple locations, including Duhuria, Garapur, Rajkanika, Pattamundai, Rajnagar and Mahakalpada.

“Acting on the directives of Kendrapara SP and Sadar Police Station IIC, we are carrying out a checking drive at Garapur Chhak and Duhuria Chhak. Cars and buses are being thoroughly checked,” Sadar PS Sub-Inspector, Sibaram Swain, had expressed.