Bhubaneswar: Out of 3,738 illegal Bangladesh nationals detected in the state so far, 41 faced criminal cases in the past 10 years, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi informed the assembly on Monday.
Responding to a query by MLA Manas Kumar Dutta, the CM said in a written reply that out of the illegal Bangladesh nationals, the highest number of 1,649 live in Kendrapada, 1,112 in Jagatsinghpur, 655 in Malkangiri, 199 in Bhadrak, 106 in Nabarangpur and 17 in Bhubaneswar.
“The govt has formed district-level committees comprising members from tehshil, block and police personnel to identify the Bangladeshi infiltrators. The committees are taking steps for the deportation of the illegal Bangladeshi nationals back to their home,” the CM stated.
On Dutta’s query, especially relating to the activities of illegal Bangladesh nationals in Balasore, Majhi said that though Balasore doesn’t have any Bangladesh nationals, there are five cases against them pending in different courts in that district.
Revenue and disaster management minister Suresh Pujari held the West Bengal govt responsible for the infiltration. He said the Bengal administration should keep a check on illegal activities along its borders.
“Illegal immigrants from Bangladesh have been entering the country and in Odisha through the Bengal borders. Cattle smuggling is also being carried out via the neighbouring state,” Pujari alleged on Monday.
Pujari expressed concern over the rise in criminal activities linked to illegal immigrants. He said there are several criminal cases involving Bangladeshi nationals pending in different courts in Odisha and the govt is taking steps to find a permanent solution to the issue.
The special task force arrested ten illegal Bangladesh nationals from Bhubaneswar railway station on Sunday. The STF, after the arrest, said that all of them entered the country illegally through their agent near Assam’s Dhubri district.