Calls for immediate action against unauthorized Bangladeshi and Rohingya immigrants in Odisha by Bharat Raksha Manch
In Odisha, concerns over the increasing number of Bangladeshi and Rohingya infiltrators have escalated, sparking a wave of heightened enforcement actions. This situation reflects a broader national pattern, raising significant security, humanitarian, and political challenges.
The Bharat Raksha Manch (BRM), a national-level social organization, has been at the forefront of this issue, calling for sustained efforts to prevent further penetration and secure the state's borders. In a recent press conference held in Bhubaneswar, the Odisha president of BRM, Subrat Mishra, highlighted the alleged involvement of infiltrators in misappropriating rations and encroaching on land belonging to impoverished locals.
The infiltrators are engaged in various occupations, including labour work and small businesses, and are spread across cities, towns, and villages in Odisha. The BRM commended the recent arrest of 10 suspected infiltrators and their handling from a Bhubaneswar railway station. However, more action is needed to detect infiltrators who have settled in the state with alleged backing from local politicians.
Dr. Ashok Acharya, the national general secretary of Bharat Raksha Manch, alleges that some local politicians and lower-level government officials in border districts are assisting infiltrators in obtaining Aadhaar and ration cards. The organization urges the Odisha government to introduce stricter border controls, enhance intelligence gathering, and take swift action against those aiding and abetting illegal infiltration.
The growing presence of the infiltrators poses a threat to the state's demographic balance, a concern echoed by BRM general secretary Puranjan Padhi and vice president Sudam. The BRM also urges the government to ensure that welfare benefits reach the intended beneficiaries without interference from illegal settlers.
The authorities in Odisha, as in other BJP-ruled states, have intensified crackdowns on suspected undocumented migrants, including detentions often bypassing formal legal procedures. This has led to human rights groups highlighting unlawful expulsions and the blurring of lines between migrants and Indian Muslims, leading to serious human rights and legal concerns.
The BRM has also called for increased vigilance at entry points and the implementation of a sensitisation programme to strengthen the crackdown on illegal infiltration. Dr Arun Nayak, the working president of BRM, notes that the sensitisation programme held in August 2024 had prompted the state government to strengthen its actions against illegal infiltration.
Over three lakh Bangladeshi and Rohingya infiltrators have settled in Odisha, a figure that continues to rise, fueling fears over livelihood competition and straining public resources. The BRM emphasizes the need for political consensus and combined action between the state and central authorities to tackle infiltration effectively. The organization also signals the upcoming revision of electoral rolls as a tool to address illegal immigrants, Rohingyas, and fake voters.
References:
- The Hindu, "BJP targets TMC over Rohingya migrants in West Bengal", 2024.
- The Wire, "BJP-ruled states crack down on undocumented migrants, human rights groups raise concerns", 2024.
- The Quint, "Central Government Orders States to Detect and Deport Illegal Immigrants, Establish Detention Centres", 2024.
- The Telegraph, "BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya accuses Mamata Banerjee of ignoring infiltration problem in West Bengal", 2024.
The Bharat Raksha Manch (BRM) has urged the Odisha government to address the involvement of infiltrators in misappropriating rations and encroaching on local land, an issue discussed in a recent press conference. Furthermore, the BRM has accused some local politicians and government officials of aiding these infiltrators, callously placing security, humanitarian, and political challenges under the spotlight in the realm of general-news and crime-and-justice.
