Jharsuguda: As many as 444 suspected Bangladeshi and Rohingya immigrants have been detained in Odisha’s Jharsuguda district during a massive crackdown launched by the police on illegal settlers.
These immigrants, identified since Monday night, have been shifted to the holding centres for verification.
Verification of the documents of these 444 people shifted to the holding centres is underway and further action will be initiated accordingly, Inspector General of Police, Northern Range, Himansu Kumar Lal told reporters.
Preliminary information indicated that most of these people are men employed in different industries, mines and also engaged as masons and house painters. As per order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), a Special Task Force (STF) was constituted for this purpose, Jharsuguda SP Smit Parmar said.
As per the instruction of the STF, a drive was launched within different police station limits in the district during which 444 individuals were shifted to two holding centres for verification, he said.
In order to facilitate the verification process, holding centres have been set up at Black Diamond College of Engineering and Technology in Jharsuguda sub-division and another at Surabhi Kalyan Mandap in Brajrajnagar sub-division. The documents of these individuals are being thoroughly examined to ascertain their nationality, the SP said.
