Bhubaneswar: Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan Sunday said there was no report of any influx of Bangladeshis into the coastal state through the sea route after unrest in the neighbouring country.
Replying to queries from journalists about the threat of an influx from Bangladesh through the sea route in the wake of political turmoil in Bangladesh, Harichandan said that Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has instructed both Coast Guard and Odisha Marine Police to undertake patrolling along the coastline to prevent any such attempt.
The Law Minister further said, “Some Bangladeshis have been residing in Odisha for a long time. The state government will verify their documents such as visa, work permit or any other valid reason to stay in the state. Illegal infiltrators will be sent back to their country after verification.”
According to Odisha Police, the 480-km-long coastline of the state is under a three-tier security scanner.
While the first five nautical miles are being guarded by Odisha’s Marine Police, the Coast Guard is patrolling the waters of the country’s maritime border up to 80 km from the coast, Odisha Police said.
According to government sources, a total of 3,740 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants have been identified in seven districts of Odisha. Of them, 1,649 are in Kendrapara, 1,112 are in Jagatsinghpur and 655 are in Malkangiri.
