Bhubaneswar, May 19: The Odisha government has launched a statewide initiative to identify and deport illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, with the Special Task Force (STF) of the Crime Branch appointed as the nodal agency for the operation.
Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan confirmed the state’s firm stance, stating, “Under no circumstances will non-citizens be allowed to reside in Odisha. Once identified, they will be deported as per legal procedures.”
STF Deputy Inspector General Pinak Mishra informed that several infiltration hotspots have already been identified, particularly in coastal regions. The STF is working in close coordination with district police, the Indian Coast Guard, and other enforcement agencies to begin a thorough identification drive.
“STF is closely monitoring the situation. We recently apprehended 10 Bangladeshi nationals and registered a case. Given Odisha’s long coastline, we remain alert and are in constant touch with multiple agencies,” Mishra said.
According to official data, 3,738 illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators have already been identified in various districts, especially in Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, Balasore, Puri, and Ganjam—all coastal areas vulnerable to unauthorized entry.
In a significant arrest on March 9, 10 Bangladeshi nationals, including three women and a juvenile, were detained at Bhubaneswar Railway Station for entering the state without valid documents.
To intensify the crackdown, the state government has directed all District Collectors and Superintendents of Police to form block-level committees to detect and report illegal immigrants within their jurisdictions.
While the state continues to shelter over 1.57 lakh Bangladeshi refugees who were legally resettled post-Independence, primarily in Malkangiri and Nabarangpur districts, concerns have grown over undocumented immigrants who have found employment in the construction sector across coastal Odisha.
Minister Harichandan also stated that engineering and construction firms operating in Odisha will be asked to submit detailed reports on Bangladeshi nationals working with them. These reports will be carefully examined to verify the legal status of all such individuals.
The government’s latest move underscores its commitment to national security and demographic regulation amid rising concerns over illegal immigration in sensitive border and coastal regions.
