Kalinganagar: The rapid influx of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants to Kalinganagar, an industrial hub in Jajpur district in the state, owing to the negligence and callous approach of the district administration towards the problem have sent alarm bells ringing in the area.
The illegal immigrants are frequently entering Kalinganagar with an eye on rapid industrialisation and hoping to build their fortune. Thanks to the apathetic and negligent attitude of the district administration and an evil connivance between the revenue and tehsil officials and unscrupulous agents, the immigrants find it easier to sneak into Kalinganagar.
It is alleged that the illegal immigrants first settle down by encroaching upon forest and government lands in the area and later claim them as their own. The immigrants encroaching upon vast tracts of forest and government lands in three panchayats of Danagadi block and using them to build houses and for cultivation purpose is a case in this point.
What is worst that these illegal immigrants have even managed to get voter identity cards, Aadhaar cards and all government benefits with the help of the local politicians. The matter came to fore when the Dangadi tehsil office received over 500 applications of the illegal immigrants for permanent land pattas for the land they encroached upon.
Some of the applicants were identified as Mantu Mandal, Ghanshyam Mandal, Bijay Mandal, Debanshu Sarkar, Manohar Mandal, Fukan Mandal, Shanti Mandal, Susant Mandal, Jagdish Mandal, Ranjit Mandal, Nibaran Mandal, Aniruddh Mandal and Mahendra Mandal in the area.
Many of them have managed to get ration cards and are already receiving Rs 1 per kg rice under government scheme. This apart, many also have voter identity cards, Aadhaar cards, houses under Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana, Indira Awas and Mo Kudia Yojana. On the other hand, many local residents are still poor and are deprived of these benefits. It is alleged that many illegal immigrants are involved in illegal trade of contrabands and other narcotics.
Locals claimed that while it is mandatory for them to get a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the police certifying that they do not have any case registered against their names in the police stations while applying for jobs in any of the industrial plants, the same is not applicable in case of Bangladeshi immigrants. The immigrants do not face any such restrictions and easily get jobs in the industrial units.
Sources claimed that these immigrants have several criminal cases registered in their names in Bangladesh for which they have fled to India to escape being prosecuted. The immigrants after fleeing Bangladesh enter the country via sea routes in Dhamra, Bhitarkanika, Satabhaya and Paradip in search of a safe haven in this country.
Their numbers are multiplying every day as they were found to have spread their base in Kalinganagar, Dhabalagiri, Sapagadia, Danagadi, Singagadia in Trijanga panchayat, Bengapatia in Dhuligarh panchayat, Bangalisahi in Ranagundi panchayat and Bangalisahi in Nadiabhanga panchayat. They have managed to settle down with the help of some unscrupulous person in exchange of money.
Several demands by the residents in past to identify the immigrants and drive them out of the country have failed to yield any result as the district administration and local political representatives feign ignorance about the issue.
Local political leaders keep them in good book hoping to get their votes during elections. The unscrupulous revenue and tehsil officials also help them in settling down in the area and provide them with all benefits in exchange of gratifications.
PNN
