Odisha : The Commissionerate Police has launched a major crackdown to identify illegal Bangladeshi immigrants living in Bhubaneswar. DCP Jagmohan Meena has directed all police stations to collect detailed information about the number of foreigners, especially Bangladeshi nationals, living illegally in their respective jurisdictions and initiate appropriate legal action. The directive was issued during a crime control review meeting held at Bharatpur police station on Sunday where the issue of internal security was discussed. DCP Meena stressed on how these persons entered the city, what activities they are engaged in and whether they have valid documents or not. He warned that action will be taken against those who fail to produce proper documents. According to police sources, previous investigations have revealed the involvement of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in several criminal cases in Bhubaneswar. Recently, ten Bangladeshi nationals, including a middleman, were arrested near Bhubaneswar railway station. There are growing concerns that some of them are working clandestinely or possibly passing on sensitive information to hostile entities. The police also plan to monitor their activities on social media. DCP Meena directed the officers to keep a close watch on criminals and other habitual offenders who have returned from jail as part of a comprehensive crime control strategy. If Bangladeshi nationals are found living illegally, they will be immediately arrested and either deported or handed over to the Bangladesh embassy. One of the biggest challenges in this operation is the lack of official records on the exact number of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in the state. While the state government estimates that over 1.5 lakh Bangladeshis live in Odisha, about 4,500 are suspected to be living without proper documentation. However, unofficial estimates suggest that the actual number could be much higher, especially in districts like Khurda, Cuttack and Puri. In Bhubaneswar and its outskirts, many Bangladeshi immigrants are reportedly engaged in house construction, junk collection and selling goods on the street. There are concerns about their uncontrolled movement and lack of identity verification, which poses a serious internal security risk. Earlier, the Law Minister had also called for statewide identification of such migrants.
Crackdown on illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in Bhubaneswar, DCP orders identification drive
