Odisha Police Detains 18 Suspected Illegal Bangladeshi Immigrants in Kendrapara

In a recent operation, Odisha police detained 18 individuals suspected of being illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in Kendrapara. The crackdown aims to identify and address the issue of unlawful foreign nationals residing in the region. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has emphasized the need for action against such infiltrators, revealing that thousands have been identified across the state. The situation highlights ongoing concerns regarding immigration and security in Odisha.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 30, 2025, 22:39 IST

Police Action Against Illegal Immigration in Kendrapara

Kendrapara: In a significant move against illegal immigration, Odisha police apprehended approximately 18 individuals suspected to be Bangladeshi nationals residing unlawfully in various areas of coastal Kendrapara district on Monday.

This operation aimed to identify foreign nationals illegally residing in the district led to the discovery of these individuals in villages such as Rajendranarayanpur, Rangani, Kereragada, and Gopalpur, according to Bimal Kumar Mallick, the inspector-in-charge of Talachua marine police station.

The detained individuals could not provide valid identification to substantiate their claims of being Indian citizens. Their fluency in Bengali has raised suspicions regarding their origins, as noted by the police inspector.

"Since they could not establish their Indian identity, they have been placed in a detention center in Kendrapara. Further interrogation of the suspected Bangladeshi nationals is currently underway," the inspector stated.

During a visit to Kendrapara on June 9, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi instructed local authorities and police to take action to identify foreign nationals living illegally in the region.

In March, Majhi, who oversees the Home portfolio, informed the Assembly that a total of 3,738 Bangladeshi infiltrators had been identified as residing unlawfully in the state.

Kendrapara reported the highest number of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, totaling 1,649, followed by Jagatsinghpur with 1,112, Malkangiri with 655, Bhadrak with 199, Nabarangpur with 106, and Bhubaneswar with 17.