Paradip, Jul 8: A Bangladeshi family has been detained in Paradip as part of a statewide crackdown on illegal immigrants. The family, consisting of a man, a woman, and two children, entered India through the Sundarbans water route, reaching Kolkata before traveling to Paradip by bus.
The Paradip Lock Police detained the family during a routine verification check. They found that the family entered India without valid documents and had been trying to settle in Paradip. The police acted on intelligence inputs and took the family for questioning.
The family had been brought to Paradip by an unidentified local man who had arranged rented accommodation for them in Jaradari Pada. Authorities, including the Kujang Tehsildar and local Sub-Collector, visited the police station to gather details of the case, which has been reported to the government. A medical team examined the family members' health, including the children.
The family claimed they fled Bangladesh to escape abuse and torture, seeking refuge in India. They said the local man promised them work and shelter in Paradip, raising concerns about potential human trafficking or illegal immigration networks.
Police are investigating how the local man came into contact with the family and whether more Bangladeshi nationals are being brought into the region. Authorities suspect a possible racket operating in coastal Odisha, bringing in Bangladeshi nationals, who are later obtaining fake identity documents and working in industries like fisheries.
