Bhubaneswar: With the Odisha government intensifying the crackdown on Bangladeshi infiltrators, as many as 17 suspected intruders from the neighbouring country were held by the police in Bhadrak district on Tuesday.
Officials said the drive against Bangladeshi infiltrators has been stepped up in several districts, including Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, and Keonjhar where the authorities concerned are conducting raids to identify illegal settlers.
A report from Bhadrak said that police have detained 17 people on suspicion of being Bangladeshi nationals who illegally infiltrated into Odisha.
Police said the suspected infiltrators were intercepted near the Bhadrak bus stand after their movements and responses during questioning raised doubts.
The 17 people were reportedly travelling from Murshidabad in West Bengal to Bhadrak when the Town police stopped them near the old bus stand and conducted preliminary interrogation. As suspicions grew, they were taken to the night shelter near the new bus stand for further verification.
These people had reportedly been operating in various parts of the city for an extended period, often moving around and conducting local business.
According to Bhadrak Superintendent of Police Manoj Raut, Aadhaar cards and other documents of the detainees are being thoroughly examined. Their exact identity will be confirmed after the verification.
The detention in Bhadrak comes amid stepped up scrutiny in the state following recent action against suspected illegal Bangladeshi settlers in Jagatsinghpur district. The authorities in Jagatsinghpur demolished ten illegally constructed houses on Monday. These houses reportedly sheltered nearly 30 suspected Bangladeshi nationals in Behram slum under Tarikunda panchayat of the district.
Meanwhile, a 12-hour bandh called by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) was observed in Keonjhar, seeking action against infiltrators. The shutdown was observed from 6 am to 6 pm to press for identification of individuals staying illegally and causing unrest in the region.
Stressing the state government’s resolve to remove all suspected Balgnadeshi infiltrators from Odisha, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan has warned that strict action would continue against illegal migrants. “Strict action will be taken against the intruders, and the process has already begun. We are identifying infiltrators, and necessary steps will be taken to deport them,” he said.
