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Odisha Identifies 77 Illegal Bangladeshi Immigrants, Majority Deported

The Odisha government has identified 77 Bangladeshi nationals illegally residing in the state through a verification drive guided by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi informed the Assembly that 73 of these individuals have already been deported to Bangladesh. Two individuals were found to have fraudulently obtained Indian passports using forged documents, leading to criminal cases. The state police have been directed to intensify verification efforts, including examining financial and digital records.

Key Points: Odisha Finds 77 Illegal Bangladeshi Immigrants, Deports Most

  • 77 illegal Bangladeshi nationals identified
  • 73 already deported to Bangladesh
  • State-wide drive per MHA guidelines
  • 2 fraudulently obtained Indian passports
2 min read

Odisha identifies 77 illegal B'deshi immigrants, most deported: CM Majhi

Odisha CM Majhi reports 77 illegal Bangladeshi nationals identified in state-wide drive; 73 deported, 2 faced fraud charges.

"Out of the 77 identified Bangladeshi nationals, 73 have already been deported to Bangladesh - CM Mohan Charan Majhi"

Bhubaneswar, Feb 23

The Odisha government has identified 77 Bangladeshi nationals illegally staying in the state, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi informed the Odisha Assembly on Monday.

Replying to a query raised by BJP MLA Padma Lochan Panda, Majhi said the identification was carried out as part of a state-wide drive in accordance with guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

He noted that, as per MHA letter No. 25022/28/2020-FI (Part-III) dated May 2, 2025, instructions were issued to Superintendents of Police across all districts to expedite the identification of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.

The Chief Minister said the Superintendents of Police have been acting in compliance with the MHA guidelines and conducting verification drives in their respective jurisdictions.

According to Majhi, identity documents of 2,261 suspected individuals were examined during the state-wide verification exercise.

Out of these, 2,184 individuals were found to be Indian citizens and were released after verification of their credentials.

The remaining 77 individuals were identified as Bangladeshi nationals residing illegally in the state.

Among them, 26 were identified in the Bhubaneswar Urban Police District (UPD), 14 in Cuttack UPD, six in Berhampur, one each in Ganjam and Koraput districts, four in Kandhamal, three in Kendrapara, and 21 in Jagatsinghpur district.

Out of the 77 identified Bangladeshi nationals, 73 have already been deported to Bangladesh, the Chief Minister informed the Assembly.

He further said that two Bangladeshi nationals -- one each from Ganjam and Kandhamal districts -- had fraudulently obtained Indian passports using forged documents.

The Odisha Police registered separate criminal cases against them and produced them before the court for further legal action.

Meanwhile, the deportation process for the remaining two Bangladeshi nationals identified in the Bhubaneswar Urban Police District is currently underway.

The Chief Minister added that the state government has intensified efforts to identify and deport illegal foreign nationals residing in Odisha.

He said the Odisha Police have been directed to thoroughly verify the identities of suspected individuals, including examining financial transactions, communication records, and digital footprints to establish their nationality.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
Good to see action being taken. But the process must be humane. Out of 2261 checked, only 77 were illegal. We must ensure genuine Indian citizens don't face harassment during such drives.
R
Rahul R
The two who got Indian passports with forged documents is a serious concern. How did they get through the system? This shows there are loopholes that need to be plugged immediately.
S
Sarah B
While I understand the need for border security, I hope the verification of "digital footprints and communication records" is done with proper oversight. Privacy is important too.
K
Karthik V
This is a wake-up call for all states. Odisha has shown the way. Illegal immigration affects resources and local jobs. Other coastal states should also conduct similar drives.
M
Meera T
The numbers seem small, but it's about the principle. Every country has the right to know who is living within its borders. Hope the deportation of the last two is completed soon.

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