Bhubaneswar: In a landmark verdict, a court in Odisha has sentenced nine Bangladeshi nationals to two years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) and imposed fines for illegally infiltrating into the state, officials said on Tuesday.
The Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) Court, Bhubaneswar, pronounced the judgment after examining evidence presented by the prosecution, including testimonies of six witnesses and supporting documentary proof. The court also ruled that the convicts would undergo an additional three months of imprisonment in case of failure to pay the imposed fines.
The nine Bangladeshi nationals were arrested on March 8, 2025, by the Special Task Force (STF) of the Odisha Crime Branch during a raid at the Bhubaneswar Railway Station. During the operation, the STF seized Bangladeshi and Indian currency notes along with mobile phones from the accused.
Officials said the arrests were made following intelligence inputs about the presence of illegal infiltrators using the railway network to move across states.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh government has formally requested the Government of India to hand over the convicted individuals to the Bangladesh High Commission after they complete their jail terms in India. Further procedures in this regard will be taken up in accordance with diplomatic and legal protocols.
