Bangladeshi immigrants link: Sikandar Alam nabbed after 7 days; passport seized, police suspect foreign network

After remaining on the run for seven days, Sikandar Alam was arrested by Jagatsinghpur Police from Jajpur on Saturday. According to officials, multiple strategic traps were laid at various locations to trace his movements, eventually leading to his capture.

During the operation, police seized several important documents from Sikandar, including his passport. Investigators suspect that Sikandar may have foreign connections, as he had allegedly constructed illegal houses on government land at the Beherampur slum in Jagatsinghpur and was reportedly sheltering Bangladeshi nationals there. Sources indicate that his activities may be linked to a wider network operating in the region.

Following the arrest, Sikandar has been detained at an undisclosed location for intensive interrogation. Earlier, police had also picked up his son and another close associate for questioning as part of the broader probe.

Also Read: Jagatsinghpur administration razes encroachments built by suspected Bangladeshi nationals

The arrest comes amid an intensified crackdown on illegal Bangladeshi immigrants across Jagatsinghpur district. Just a day earlier, the local administration launched demolition drives targeting makeshift houses constructed illegally on government land by suspected Bangladeshi nationals. Several such structures were pulled down during the operation.

This action forms part of a larger statewide effort, as Odisha has ramped up verification, eviction, and demolition drives to identify and remove individuals residing without valid documents. Authorities say these operations will continue in the coming days as part of a zero-tolerance approach toward unauthorized foreign settlers.