Bhubaneswar/Nayagarh, Dec 3: Odisha Police on Wednesday firmly rejected Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra’s allegation that four Bengali-speaking Indian citizens were illegally detained and driven out of Nayagarh district.

Terming the charge “completely false”, Nayagarh Additional SP Subash Chandra Panda said there was “no truth in the allegation” and clarified that no such persons had been identified by the district police.

“If no such individuals have been identified, the question of evicting them simply does not arise,” added Nayagarh SP Subash Panda. He further said the police were unaware if “anyone left voluntarily for their homes.”

The response came after Moitra posted a video on her official X handle earlier in the day, levelling serious allegations against the Odisha Police.

In her video message, the TMC MP said, "I would like to bring to the urgent attention of DGP Odisha, SP Nayagarh S Susree and Odagaon Police Station of Odisha. On November 27, you illegally rounded up four Bengali migrants from Sagarpara, Jalangi assembly, Domkal subdivision of Murshidabad district in West Bengal who had been living and earning a livelihood in Nayagarh district for the past 18 years. Some of their fathers had also been working at Nayagarh before that. They are poor people and they earn a living by selling woollen garments and things for the winter. Police went in, rounded them up and called them 'Rohingyas and illegal Bangladeshis', simply because they were Bengali-speaking. Even after showing valid ID proofs such as Aadhar cards, voter cards to the police, they were taken to the police station. When the families contacted office of Nayagarh SP, we called Odagaon Police Station to release them as they are verified workers. After that, police released them but ordered them to leave the district within 72 hours. They also threatened and pressured their landlord of these poor workers and made sure that they leave the houses. They had items worth Rs 2 lakh in their inventory. Overnight, they had to leave Odisha and are currently on a train reaching Bengal."

Attention @DGPOdisha @spnayagarh you have illegally thrown out 4 Bengali speaking Indian citizens from Nayagarh district simply because they were Bengalis. There are lakhs of Odiya cooks, gardeners, plumbers & others working in Bengal who we treat with love & respect. You will… pic.twitter.com/Rrjej2fK33

— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) December 3, 2025

Mahua further said, "We are taking you to court, Sir. Please, be aware. You have no right to throw out Benaglis, earning a living in Odisha, as it is against the fundamental principles of the constitution. Please understand that there are Odia cooks, Odia Malis (gardeners), Odia plumbers and many, many lakhs of Odias, who live and work in Bengal. If Bengal government starts doing what we are doing, then you think we would land up."

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While Moitra described it as a case of “targeted harassment” and vowed legal action, Odisha Police maintained that the allegations were baseless and no eviction order had been issued.