Bhubaneswar: Amid the nationwide crackdown on undocumented Bangladeshi immigrants, the Commissionerate Police here has launched a special drive to identify such illegal settlers in the Odisha capital.
In a crime control review meeting on Sunday, Bhubaneswar DCP Jagmohan Meena instructed all police stations to gather detailed data on undocumented foreigners, particularly Bangladeshi nationals, and take appropriate legal action. He emphasised the need to investigate how these individuals entered Bhubaneswar, their activities, and whether they possess valid documents.
Illegal Bangladeshi residents will face immediate arrest and either deportation or transfer to the Bangladesh Embassy.
Police sources noted that past investigations linked illegal Bangladeshi immigrants to several criminal cases in the city. The Special Task Force (STF) of the Crime Branch had also arrested 10 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants including six men, three women and a juvenile from Bhubaneswar railway station here in March. Concerns are rising that some may be operating discreetly or sharing sensitive information with hostile entities.
However, lack of precise records on illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in Odisha continue to be a challenge.
The state government estimates over 1.5 lakh Bangladeshis in the state, with around 4,500 lacking proper documentation, though unofficial figures suggest a higher number, particularly in districts like Khurda, Cuttack, and Puri. In Bhubaneswar, many such immigrants reportedly work in construction, scrap collection, and street vending, raising concerns about unchecked movement and inadequate identity verification, which pose internal security risks.
Odisha Police has stepped up vigil along the state’s 480-km-long coastline to prevent influx of people from Bangladesh, following the regime change in the neighbouring state in August last year.
