Argus News - Odisha Govt Deported 49 Illegal Bangladeshi Nationals, CM Informs Assembly

Bhubaneswar, Dec 1: The Odisha government has identified and deported 49 illegal Bangladeshi nationals from the state, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi informed the State Assembly on Monday.

In a written reply, the Chief Minister said a special task force has been formed to identify, detain and deport illegal immigrants. All district Superintendents of Police have been issued strict instructions to implement these measures.

So far, authorities have screened 1,768 suspicious individuals across Odisha. Among them, 51 were declared illegal immigrants, and 49 of them have already been sent back to Bangladesh. The deportations included 24 from Khordha, 15 from Cuttack, six from Ganjam, three from Kandhamal and one from Koraput. Two others were caught using fake Bangladeshi passports and legal action has been initiated against them.

The Chief Minister highlighted that the operation is being run as a coordinated multi-agency effort. Odisha Police is working in tandem with BSF, intelligence agencies from West Bengal and the Centre, along with the Ministry of Home Affairs, and stressed that the campaign against illegal immigration will continue.

Police sources said that district-level and state-level detention centres have been set up for suspected illegal entrants, and senior police officers are conducting continuous surveillance of high-risk areas.

This disclosure in the Assembly comes amid widespread concern over illegal immigration across Odisha, particularly in urban settlements and border districts.

Meanwhile, police today raided two locations linked to Sikandar Alam -- the main accused in the case of illegally housing Bangladeshi nationals in Beherampur slum of Jagatsinghpur district -- at Dhanipur settlement and a house in Kuamanga.

The operation was carried out in the presence of the Additional SP and SDPO, with support from two platoons of police personnel. During the raid, authorities seized a bike, a large number of fake Aadhaar cards, bank passbooks, and other important documents.

Also Read: Sikandar Alam Arrested After Week-Long Hunt In Bangladeshi Infiltration Case

Pinak Mishra, DIG of the Eastern Range, said the operation follows government directives to target illegal citizens or infiltrators. Under specific guidelines, district administration and police authorities are continuing raids in suspicious areas and residential settlements to curb illegal immigration.