Bhubaneswar: The Commissionerate Police in Odisha has begun formalities to deport six Bangladeshi nationals, including one woman, who were previously arrested for residing illegally in Bhubaneswar.
Police Commissioner S Dev Datta Singh told reporters on Wednesday that the six individuals had been booked under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, secured bail, and were subsequently moved to the State Holding Centre at Athagarh in line with standard procedures. Authorities will work with the Border Security Force and other relevant agencies to repatriate them to the Bangladesh border via Kolkata.
“A drive has been underway since last year to identify foreign nationals from Bangladesh staying illegally. Wherever information regarding illegal immigration has been received, it has been immediately verified. So far, 42 people have been deported back to Bangladesh. Last year, through government efforts, around 30 Bangladeshi nationals were sent back to their country by a special aircraft…,” he said.
While a total of 48 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants were identified in the twin cities, 26 from the state capital and 16 from Kataka were deported between July 2025 and March 2026. The remaining six in Bhubaneswar await final clearances. Once completed, the Bhubaneswar tally will reach 32, comprising 10 men, 17 women and five children.
Deportations from Kataka occurred in phases, with 14 in July 2025, one in August 2025 and one in July 2026. Some groups were sent back via special chartered flights or trains, while others were handed over at land border checkpoints through West Bengal.
The statewide effort follows Ministry of Home Affairs directives issued in May 2025 instructing superintendents of police across Odisha to accelerate the identification of suspected Bangladeshi infiltrators. In February 2026, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi informed the Assembly that the state had examined documents of 2,261 people whose nationality was in doubt and had already deported 73 Bangladeshi nationals.
