Kendrapara: In the wake of suspected Bangladeshi infiltrators being exposed in Jagatsinghpur district, police in Kendrapara have launched an intensive verification drive to trace individuals believed to have fled from the neighbouring district.
Multiple blockades have been set up across Kendrapara, where police are checking Aadhaar cards and scrutinising passengers on buses. The verification exercise is underway in Duhuria, Rajnagar, Pattamundai, Mahakalpara and several other locations.
The crackdown follows a major incident in Jagatsinghpur, where the district administration demolished 10 houses in the Beherampur area near Tarikund–Dhanipur under Jagatsinghpur police station. These structures, alleged to have been illegally built on government grazing land, were reportedly being occupied by suspected Bangladeshi infiltrators. The demolition was carried out on the instruction of the Jagatsinghpur Collector, and eviction operations are still in progress.
The police had earlier raided a rented house in the area after receiving intelligence inputs that Bangladeshi nationals were staying there. During the raid, a woman constable was injured when the team came under attack. Although several occupants managed to flee due to the limited number of personnel present, police detained two women at the spot. They claimed to be residents of West Bengal but failed to produce any identity documents. Six more suspects have since been detained, and two women were arrested on Thursday.
Authorities also seized a gun along with a large cache of swords, knives and other sharp weapons from the site. Meanwhile, the owner of the house, identified as Sikandar Alam, along with more than 10 other men and women, is currently absconding.
Tension continues to simmer in the area following the incidents, prompting the deployment of additional police forces to maintain order. The verification and search operations across Kendrapara aim to trace individuals who may have escaped from Jagatsinghpur after the crackdown.
