Bhubaneswar: A day after 13 suspected Bangladeshi nationals were detained in Jagatsinghpur, a 12-hour bandh called by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), seeking action against infiltrators, disrupted life in Keonjhar district on Tuesday.
The outfit is observing the band from 6 am to 6 pm to press for identification of individuals staying illegally and causing unrest in the region.
According to sources, businesses, shops, and schools remained shut while most private and commercial vehicles stayed off the roads. Complete shutdown and minimal traffic were reported in areas, including Keonjhar, Champua, Joda, Barbil, Patna, Ghasipura, and Anandapur. VHP leaders and supporters were seen picketing at various locations from early morning, enforcing the bandh and urging people to keep establishments closed.
Vehicles were also left stranded on Anandpur-Keonjhar NH 20 due to the bandh.
“There has been an increase in anti-social activities in the district. The infiltrators from Bangladesh are harassing our daughters. The troublemakers should be identified and pushed back from the district and state,” demanded VHP district president Tusharkant Samant.
Police were stationed at sensitive locations to prevent disturbances and maintain law and order, the sources added.
Meanwhile in Jagatsinghpur…
On Monday, DIG (central range) Satyajit Nayak said that strong measures are being taken across the state to identify and act against suspicious and illegally residing foreign nationals. He further informed about intensive raids carried out in Jagatsinghpur district during which three suspects were detained and 10 sharp-edged weapons of various types and one country-made firearm were seized from their possession.
A scuffle also broke out between police and the illegal Bangladeshi settlers on Sunday evening, leaving three cops including a woman constable injured. A total of 13 suspected infiltrators were detained by police thereafter while two women were arrested for harbouring the illegal settlers.
Illegal encroachments on government land were removed with the help of bulldozers at Behram slum in the forenoon and Dhanipur in the afternoon the following day. Ten houses were reportedly built illegally on government land to accommodate nearly 30 suspected Bangladeshi nationals at Behram slum in the village under Raghunathpur block.
“The eviction operations were carried out in two phases. In the first phase, 10 asbestos-roof houses were demolished, and in the second phase, 6 to 7 illegal encroachments were removed. Three platoons of police were deployed for the operation,”Nayak said.
According to the DIG, this is a continuous process, in which suspects undergo detection, followed by deletion of illegal claims, and finally deportation as per law.
Jagatsinghpur collector J Sonal, informed that the district administration and police administration are carrying out continuous identification activities across more than 1300 revenue villages and 198 panchayats. He added that strict legal action will be taken against suspicious illegal infiltrators after proper investigation.
According to SP Ankit Kumar Verma, some of the detainees have admitted to being Bangladeshi nationals, while others have failed to produce valid identity documents, land records, or proof of residence during verification.
The SP also advised house owners renting rooms to people from outside the state to verify their identity documents and inform the nearest police station. He further stated that special operations in hotels, guest houses are being conducted, not only in this district or state but across the entire country.
