Kendrapara: Infiltration, mostly by illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, continues unabated through the porous 48-kilometre coastline in this district. This constant infiltration has sparked fear in the minds of the original residents of this district. Many of them feel that unless it is stopped, the illegal immigrants will soon outnumber the locals. Sources said that neither the district administration nor the Odisha government is taking any steps to prevent infiltration. After the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the Union Home Ministry directed all state governments to keep a tab on the infiltrators and identify them if they were found involved in any subversive activities.
In the past, this district has been linked to terror-related activities on a couple of occasions. In 2018, officials of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) nabbed suspected terrorist Habibur Raheman from Tyendakura village under Patkura police limits. Earlier in 2007, Mohammed Javed of Ranapada village under Town police limits was arrested from close to the India-Pakistan border in Rajasthan. He was released on bail, a year later. Sources meanwhile informed that Javed has been missing since 2010. The discovery and busting of a radio station inside Bhitarkanika National Park had also created panic among people. Locals alleged that Bangladeshis are mostly using the coastline to enter the district. Senior inhabitant of this town, Ramesh Chandra Sutar said that the administration had identified 1,551 illegal Bangladeshi nationals residing in the district in 2005. He added that since then the numbers have increased manifold. “The district administration has tried to deport illegal Bangladeshis. However, most of them have moved to the local court and the cases are pending,” stated Sutar.
Locals pointed out three marine police stations had been set up to protect the coastline along this district. However, the police stations are understaffed and do not have the necessary equipment to prevent infiltration. Social activist Amarbar Biswal said that illegal Bangladeshi nationals are dominating the local population. They are also facilitating the arrival of new Bangladeshis. Once a Bangladeshi arrives, the person is helped promptly. Documents to prove the person was born here and school and college education certificates are provided to the new arrival. Many of them have also enrolled their names in Vasundhara Yojana to get land and construct houses, Biswal pointed out. Another social activist Pratap Kumar Padhi pointed out that if soon, Kendrapara soon becomes a haven for terrorists, one shouldn’t be surprised. When contacted, SDPO Debendra Mallick said the infrastructure of the three marine police stations is being upgraded. He added that new staff will be brought in to tackle infiltration.
