New Delhi: Amid mounting security concerns across the country in the wake of Pahalgam terror attack, the Odisha government on Tuesday issued an order directing removal of Bangladeshis from the workforce of the state.
The move comes days after Pakistanis residing in different parts of the country were asked to leave India immediately.
The Odisha government has launched a set of measures to identify and deport Bangladeshi nationals who are illegally residing in the state. It also aimed to ensure that no Bangladeshi should be employed in any outsourcing company in Odisha.
Prithviraj Harichandran, state law minister, emphasised the fact that individuals without valid documentation would not be permitted to stay in Odisha.
“We have a stated position to identify Bangladeshis staying illegally in Odisha. Now, we will make sure that no Bangladeshi is engaged through any outsourcing company in the state,” he said.
All state governments and private engineering firms have been instructed to stop employing foreign nationals. Engineering and outsourcing companies are mandated to verify the legal status of their employees , with non compliance resulting in serious legal actions.
The initial identification phase would involve a coastal-district specific approach which would focus on the areas that are accessible through the sea route.
Hotspots for illegal immigration identified
The six districts of Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, and Ganjam have been identified as hotspots for illegal immigration. Local administrative units have been mobilised to identify and assist in the deportation process.
Approximately 3,740 Bangladeshi nationals have been identified as staying illegally in the state.
Guidelines would be issued for identifying the illegal immigrants residing in Odisha, ensuring the verification of their documents so that no suspect goes undetected.
The Odisha Special Task Force (STF) of the Crime Branch is spearheading the identification process, with agencies such as the Marine Police, Indian Coast Guard, Railway Protection Force, and district police. This coordinated effort will monitor infiltration routes and identify potential hotspots of illegal immigration and settlement in the state.
