Odisha intensifies efforts to identify Bangladeshi infiltrators amidst unrest in Bangladesh

Bhubaneswar, Sept 2: The recent political unrest in Bangladesh has shifted attention back to the issue of infiltrators in Odisha, particularly in Kendrapara, Bhubaneswar, and Puri.

On Monday, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi addressed concerns in the Assembly regarding the state's efforts to identify Bangladeshi infiltrators. Majhi confirmed that the government has issued directives for a thorough identification process. This response came in reply to a query from MLA Bhaskar Madhei, who sought information on the steps taken to address the issue in various districts.

Majhi stated that all Collectors and SPs have been tasked with identifying infiltrators within their respective areas, with a special focus on Kendrapara, Bhubaneswar, and Puri. Identification will be conducted by a committee at the block, tehsil, and police station levels.

Previously, the BJD government had reported identifying 3,740 Bangladeshi infiltrators in Odisha, primarily located in Bargarh, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, and Bhubaneswar. According to the latest figures provided by CM Majhi, the current distribution of infiltrators includes 2 in Bargarh, 199 in Bhadrak, 1,649 in Kendrapara, 17 in Bhubaneswar, 1,112 in Jagatsinghpur, 655 in Malkangiri, and 106 in Nabarangpur.