Bhubaneswar: The arrest of ten Bangladeshi nationals in Bhubaneswar by the Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Police gave an indication of the possibility of a large-scale infiltration racket operating in the state.
While the police have launched an in-depth investigation to ascertain the modus operandi adopted by the infiltrators, the latest official data on the number of Bangladeshis staying illegally in the state appeared to be alarming.
As per fresh statistics presented in the state Assembly on Monday, a total of 3,738 Bangladeshi nationals have been identified across the state.
Stating that the deportation of these Bangladeshis is under consideration, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi informed the House about the steps being taken by the government to identify Bangladeshi infiltrators living illegally in the state and deport them.
While the government has identified 3,738 Bangladeshi nationals living illegally in the state, the highest concentrations were found in four districts – Kendrapada (1,649), Jagatsinghpur (1,112), Malkangiri (655), and Nabarangapur (106).
The Chief Minister further informed that in the last 10 years, 41 Bangladeshi nationals were found to be involved in various criminal cases in Odisha. All district Collectors and Superintendents of Police (SPs) have been directed to identify Bangladeshi infiltrators in their respective jurisdictions.
Most illegal immigrants reportedly enter Odisha via sea routes along the eastern border, making coastal districts particularly vulnerable.
Notably, migration from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) to Odisha and Madhya Pradesh dates back to post-Independence resettlement programs, when thousands of Bengali-speaking Hindus were rehabilitated with agricultural and homestead land.
As of now, a total of 1,57,432 Bangladeshi settlers legally reside in Odisha, with the highest numbers in Malkangiri (1,04,233), followed by Nabarangpur (46,848), and Koraput (4,653).
Referring to the arrest of the ten Bangladeshi nationals in the state capital on Sunday, STF DIG Pinak Mishra said police are trying to ascertain how they infiltrated, their entry route, their facilitator and how many times they had visited India prior to this.
Efforts are on to ascertain whether there is a major organised racket behind this infiltration, while police have got some information and are in touch with other agencies also as part of the probe.
This latest incident highlights growing security concerns over illegal immigration and the potential involvement of organized rackets facilitating unauthorised cross-border movement.
The authorities have intensified their efforts to track down individuals involved in aiding and abetting such activities, ensuring strict legal action against those responsible.
