Nayagarh SP refutes TMC MP Mahua Moitra’s claim, says no Bengalis driven out of Odisha

Nayagarh Police on Friday strongly denied allegations made by Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra, who claimed that Bengali-speaking workers were forcibly driven out of the Odagaon area of the district. 

Terming the accusation ‘completely false’, Nayagarh SP S. Susree clarified that the police only carried out routine verification of identity documents and did not evict anyone.

According to the SP, Odagaon Police had recently received information regarding the presence of around 14 unidentified Bengali-speaking ferry vendors operating in nearby villages. Given the possibility that some individuals could be illegal immigrants from Bangladesh or Rohingya settlers, the police summoned them to the station for standard identity verification.

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“They were asked to produce their identification documents as part of a legal and routine procedure. During the process, seven of them fled without informing us, while the others have been cooperating,” SP Sushree said.

Refuting Moitra’s allegation that the workers were chased away, the SP added, “They may have left on their own, but the police did not drive them out. We did not force or threaten anyone.”

The district police have also emphasised that identity verification of unknown individuals is a standard practice conducted in the interest of public safety. Authorities are continuing the verification process for the remaining individuals while efforts are underway to trace those who fled.