Tension in Balasore after Odia traders’ evicted from Digha; irked locals ask Bengal shopkeepers to leave

A fresh controversy has erupted in Balasore district after shopkeepers from Odisha were reportedly evicted from Digha in West Bengal.  The incident has triggered tension in the Chandaneswar area, where locals have now asked shopkeepers from West Bengal to vacate the region.

Also Read: Half of Bhubaneswar turns no-parking zone; citizens hit by space crunch

Eviction in Digha Sparks Backlash in Odisha

According to allegations, several people from Balasore earned their livelihood by running small shops in Digha. However, a few individuals, reportedly with the support of the Mamata Banerjee administration, removed these Odia traders from their establishments. The eviction has generated widespread resentment back home.

In response, residents of the Bhogarai block in Balasore have reportedly given a three-day deadline to shopkeepers from West Bengal, asking them to shut down their businesses and leave the area.

Locals Demand Equal Treatment

Locals argue that if Odia traders are being removed from Digha, then shopkeepers from Bengal operating in Odisha should also vacate government land or unauthorized spaces. Several Bengali shopkeepers in the Chandaneswar region have reportedly been asked to close their shops and return to their state.

“About 50–60 small shopkeepers from Odisha were reportedly evicted from Digha. They came and shared their issues with us. When we tried to discuss the matter with the Digha administration, they did not cooperate. Following this, we asked shopkeepers and traders from West Bengal to leave our area within three days,” said social worker Dilip Kamila.

Also Read: Odisha man beats wife to death for talking too much on phone

Administration Issues Clarification

Following the escalating tension, the local administration intervened. Balasore Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Sudhakar Nayak denied that shopkeepers from West Bengal were being specifically targeted and stated that anyone occupying government land without permission would be evicted, regardless of their state of origin. The administration has urged residents to maintain peace and allow legal procedures to prevail.