BHUBANESWAR: WITH the state government’s crackdown on suspected illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and Rohingyas sparking a political row, particularly the Trinamool Congress voicing its stiff opposition, Odisha police on Wednesday released at least 25 of the 444 people who were shifted to holding centres in Jharsuguda district since Monday night.
Police said the document verification of the 25 people was completed and they were ascertained to be Indian nationals. The verification of the remaining 419 persons was currently underway and further action will be initiated accordingly.
The people have been kept at two holding centres - Black Diamond College of Engineering and Technology in Jharsuguda sub-division and Surabhi Kalyan Mandap in Brajrajnagar sub-division. The release of the 25 people came hours after the TMC claimed they were migrant workers from West Bengal and alleged they were being held illegally.
TMC MP from Krishnanagar, Mahua Moitra, alleged that 23 workers from her constituency’s Panighata area were detained as part of the documentation verification drive. Posting a video statement on X, Moitra drew the attention of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, state chief secretary and DGP to the matter.
She asserted that all the 23 people possess valid documents. Her party counterpart in the Rajya Sabha Samirul Islam alleged that the Odisha government has detained over 200 migrant workers from various districts of West Bengal including Murshidabad, Birbhum, Malda, Nadia, Purba Bardhaman and South 24 Parganas on grounds of being Bangladeshi nationals.
Responding to the allegations, the Odisha government said it understood the concerns raised regarding the holding of individuals in Jharsuguda but asserted that safeguarding national interest and security remained paramount and cannot be compromised. Those found with with valid documents are already returning or are in the process of returning to their place of stay, it said.
Verification process not to target any religion, but uphold law: Police
Odisha Police said the verification process was not about targeting any community or region but about upholding the rule of law and ensuring the security of the nation. “Without verifiable documents, it is imperative to crosscheck records to confirm whether the persons are Indian citizens or foreign nationals.
This process is critical to protect our borders and ensure the safety of our nation. Those detained are accommodated in designated facilities with access to adequate food, water, hygiene and medical care, in line with humanitarian standards,” Northern Range IG, Himanshu Kumar Lal said.
The verification is being conducted meticulously by senior officers via a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) and with multiple layers of scrutiny to ensure no Indian national is wrongfully detained or harassed. Every effort is made to uphold the rights of Indian citizens while maintaining the integrity of the process, he added.
“We urge the public to refrain from speculation and trust the authorities to carry out this process transparently and fairly. For further details or to report any concern, local authorities can be contacted on mobile phone number 9437178799,” he stated.