Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said in the Assembly that his government has directed all district magistrates and superintendents of police to identify Bangladeshi infiltrators. In a written reply to a question by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Bhaskar Madhei, Majhi said instructions have been issued to constitute committees of officers from tehsils, blocks and police stations to identify infiltrators in various places, especially in Kendrapara district where most of the “illegal immigrants” are said to be staying.
In another statement made in the Assembly, the Chief Minister said that till the year 2021, a total of 3,740 Bangladeshi intruders were living illegally in the state. He informed that out of these illegal intruders, 1,649 live in Kendrapara district, 1,112 in Jagatsinghpur, 655 in Malkangiri, 199 in Bhadrak, 106 in Nabarangpur, 17 people live in Khurda district and two persons in Bargarh district. Majhi told the Assembly that a proposal to send them back to their country is under consideration of the government. According to the Chief Minister, in view of the recent political turmoil in Bangladesh, strict security measures have been taken in Odisha to prevent infiltration from there.
Replying to a question by opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Bibhuti Bhushan Balwantray, Majhi said the state’s maritime border was being patrolled at regular intervals and strict vigil was being maintained. The chief minister informed the House that National Population Register card reader machines provided by the Home Ministry were being used to identify Indian and foreign citizens.
Besides, he said, Superintendents of Police of all coastal districts of Odisha have been directed to remain alert and increase patrolling on waterways to prevent Bangladeshi intruders. The state intelligence wing has also directed its officers to remain in touch with fishermen’s associations and fishing boat owners’ bodies to collect information about intruders, the chief minister said. A total of 18 marine police stations are active in the state and 15 high-speed interceptor boats have been provided to the police under a central scheme, he said.
