Muslim Traders in Odisha Face Expulsion Amid Allegations of Illegal Residency

Traders Ordered to Leave

Four Muslim merchants from Murshidabad district in West Bengal have been given a 72-hour ultimatum to vacate Nayagarh, Odisha, following accusations of being Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingya migrants, as reported on Tuesday.

The individuals had been residing in Nayagarh for several years, selling items such as mosquito nets, quilts, and woolens from their two-wheelers. All four hail from the Sagarpara gram panchayat in the Jalangi block of the Domkal subdivision in Murshidabad.

On November 27, one of the traders, Saheb Sekh, recounted that police officers visited their rented home and accused them of being "Rohingya living illegally in India." The officers requested to see their identification documents.

"I presented my Aadhaar and voter ID," Sekh stated. "However, the officer was not satisfied and contacted my landlord, instructing us to report to the police station by 5 PM."

Later that day, the four men complied and went to the Odagaon police station, where they were ordered to leave the town within three days. They claimed that their Bengali language was used against them as further evidence of their alleged illegal status.

The police also collected signed copies of their identification documents.

Abdus Salam, one of the traders, alleged that a group present at the police station was affiliated with a Hindutva organization, stating, "We have encountered them in markets and other locations."

It remains uncertain whether the men have returned to Murshidabad.

This incident occurs amidst claims by the Trinamool Congress that Bengali-speaking individuals are facing discrimination in BJP-ruled states due to suspicions of being from Bangladesh.

Following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, police in various BJP-governed states have been detaining Bengali-speaking individuals, primarily Muslims, demanding proof of their Indian citizenship.

Numerous individuals have reportedly been forced into Bangladesh after failing to establish their citizenship. In some instances, those mistakenly sent to Bangladesh have returned after Indian authorities confirmed their nationality.

This issue is currently under review by the Supreme Court following a petition from the West Bengal Migrant Workers Welfare Board.

In Odisha, there have been multiple reports of violence and intimidation against Bengali Muslims in recent months.

On November 24, a 24-year-old winterwear vendor from Murshidabad, Rahul Islam, was allegedly assaulted by a mob in Ganjam after he declined to chant "Jai Shri Ram," as reported.

Islam's employer, Mainul Sarkar, who also returned to Murshidabad, claimed he sought police assistance in Odisha but received none.

In July, numerous Bengali workers in Jharsuguda, Odisha, were detained under suspicions of being Bangladeshi. Many were released after their Indian citizenship was verified.