In fresh crackdown, Odisha directs Special Task Force to identify illegal immigrants
In a crackdown on 'illegal immigrants' staying in Odisha, the state government has directed the Special Task Force (STF) of the state's crime branch to identify them.
Odisha's Cabinet Minister for Law Prithiviraj Harichandan said Monday that people without valid documents will not be allowed to stay in the state.
This is part of a larger crackdown against undocumented migrants across India in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people – including one Nepal citizen — were killed.
'All the engineering departments and other agencies have been asked not to engage illegal immigrants in any form of employment in the state. The process to start identification of individuals staying illegally in Odisha will be started soon,' Harichandan told reporters in Bhubaneswar.
While the state has a vast coastline of around 480 km – making it easy to enter the state through the water — there have also been instances of undocumented migrants entering by road since the state shares a border with West Bengal.
In March, the STF had arrested 10 Bangladeshi nationals — including a minor — for their 'unauthorised entry' into Odisha with valid travel documents. The STF sources said the Bangladeshi nationals had crossed the border illegally with the help of agents near Dhubri border in Assam and came to Bhubaneswar via West Bengal to settle here.
According to STF Deputy Inspector General Pinak Mishra, they have instructions from the state government to identify the illegal immigrants.
'In view of the recent developments in the neighbourhood — including in Bangladesh — and on the western front, we consider the presence of illegal immigrants as a major threat. We are in close coordination with all agencies including district police, intelligence and others. The STF officials have been directed to proactively identify such illegal immigrants from the sensitive areas,' Mishra said.
Various coastal districts — as well as districts such as Malkangiri and Nabarangpur — have been identified as 'hotspots' and 'sensitive areas' for undocumented migrants, officials said. In these areas, the STF has been asked to keep a close watch.
According to a response from Chief Minister Mohan Majhi in the Odisha Assembly this March, Odisha has 3,740 undocumented migrants from Bangladesh. Of these, the highest — 1,649 — is Kendrapara followed by 1,112 in Jagatsinghpur.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Man who stabbed cops is Bangladeshi
Kolkata: A man who attacked and stabbed two police officers outside the North Port police station last Saturday was identified as an illegal immigrant from Bangladesh who was living in the city under a false identity since 2006. The accused, Md Sultan Sk (32), who was staying in Kolkata as Bipul Mondal, was arrested following the attack. The North Port police station registered a case under Section 212 BNS and Section 14A(b) of the Foreigners Act. During the investigation, authorities discovered that Sultan, originally from Charkacha village in Bangladesh's Raipur district, illegally crossed the Benapole border into India in 2006. He subsequently travelled to Sealdah railway station and settled in Kolkata, where he worked as a flower vendor near Howrah Bridge. "The accused failed to produce any valid documentation proving his Indian citizenship," said Joint CP (crime & traffic) Rupesh Kumar. Sultan is currently in police custody until June 11 in connection with this case. The revelation of Sultan's true identity came during police interrogation, where he confessed to illegally entering India and assuming a false identity. He was residing at the Armenian Ghat Road, he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pinga-Pinga e HBP? Tome isso 1x ao dia se tem mais de 40 anos Portal Saúde do Homem Clique aqui Undo "He was arrested earlier but it is not clear why his Bangladeshi identity was not probed," claimed a police officer. Assistant sub-inspector Partha Chand and constable Sukhendu Majhi, who were stabbed are currently receiving medical treatment. Police authorities have launched a broader investigation to determine if Sultan has any connections to other illegal activities or networks facilitating unauthorised border crossings.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
3 Bangladeshis who escaped from H'bag detention centre held
Hazaribag: All three Bangladeshi nationals, who had escaped from the detention centre on the central jail campus in Hazaribag on Monday, were traced and arrested from different locations including Bengal border following a massive manhunt, Hazaribag SP Anjani Anjan said on Tuesday. Those who had escaped are Reena Khan a.k.a Fina Devi from Ghazipur in Bangladesh, Nipah Akhtar Khushi from Chattogram and Mohammad Nazmul Hang from Bagerhat. They were brought to the detention centre from different jails in Jharkhand at different points in time. Addressing the media, SP said that the trio had planned the escape on June 8. He added that considering the seriousness of the incident, they are also probing whether any outsiders helped them escape from the camp. "We promptly formed an SIT under the leadership of Amit Kumar Anand, additional SP-cum-DSP headquarters, who conducted raids based on technical inputs and nabbed all three," he said, adding that Kolkata and Bengal Police too assisted them. Two of the female detainees were held from Bongao in North 24 Parganas in Bengal along the Bangladesh border. One of them was arrested at Dhanbad railway station. "Teams were sent in different directions based on the pre-emptive routes and inputs," he said. The SP said that teams were sent to Tisri in Giridih and Mihijam in Jamtara. The team present in the detention centre kept collecting information and giving necessary instructions to the teams sent out. "Soon a central monitoring team was also formed in my office with the help of which two teams were sent to Bongao and Kolkata in West Bengal. Two arrests were made from Bongao and one from Dhanbad railway station," he added. The SP said the trio travelled the whole night to Dhanbad railway station and then to the Bangladesh border at Bongao. The team which went to Bongao arrested Nipah and Nazmul with the help of Bengal and local police. The team which went to Kolkata chased Reena Khan alias Reena Devi on the basis of information received from SP Hazaribag and technical Cell and other human inputs. This team was being led by sub-inspector Rana Manu Pratap Singh, in-charge of Padma OP, who with the help of GRP Dhanbad and Kolkata Police chased and arrested Reena from Dhanbad railway station. When asked about the intention of the detainees to escape, the SP said their term of punishment was ending, and they wanted to stay in India. He said, "They will now be tried in court under Indian law as cases against them were filed for violation of the Foreigners Act. They will not be sent to the foreigner's detention camp. Instead, they have now been sent to Jai Prakash Narayan Central Jail at Hazaribag as directed by the Chief Judicial Magistrate court in Hazaribag." (Additional inputs from Vishvendu Jaipuriar)
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
3 hours ago
- Business Standard
66 illegal Bangladeshi migrants arrested in Northwest Delhi Bangladeshi migrants
66 illegal Bangladeshi migrants arrested in Northwest Delhi | Bangladeshi migrants | Delhi Police In a coordinated crackdown on illegal immigration, Delhi Police has arrested 66 Bangladeshi nationals from Wazirpur JJ Colony and New Subzi Mandi. Why? Here's how the operation unfolded.
