Bhubaneswar: A fresh controversy has erupted between Odisha and West Bengal after Odia traders were allegedly forcibly evicted from Digha beach by the West Bengal authorities, robbing them of their primary source of livelihood.
According to reports, the incident has led to tension in Chandaneswar market under Bhogarai block in Balasore where locals, in a tit-for-tat move, have asked the Bengali shopkeepers to vacate their shops. They have been issued a three-day ultimatum to leave Odisha.
The locals argue that if Odia traders are being evicted from Digha then Bengali shopkeepers doing business in Odisha must similarly vacate government land or encroachments. “About 50–60 small shopkeepers, who were evicted from Digha, shared their ordeal with us. We tried to take up the matter with the Digha administration, but they did not cooperate. Following which, shopkeepers and traders from West Bengal were asked to leave our area within three days,” social worker Dilip Kamila told a local channel.
Reports further stated that the affected traders have submitted a written complaint to the Balasore Collector, urging immediate administrative intervention. They have also threatened to stage a road blockade on Friday at Sahabajipur Square if the administration does not act swiftly.
However, Balasore Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Sudhakar Nayak refuted claims that shopkeepers from West Bengal were being singled out. He clarified that eviction action is being taken against anyone illegally encroaching on government land, irrespective of which state they belong to. The district administration has appealed to the public to maintain peace and let due legal process take its course.
