May 24th 2024.
Kendrapara is a coastal district that has been facing a major issue of infiltration for quite some time now. The main cause of concern is the rising number of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh entering through the porous 48-kilometre coastline. This constant influx of illegal immigrants has caused a sense of fear among the original residents of the district. Many of them are worried that if this continues, the number of illegal immigrants will soon surpass the number of locals. Sadly, it seems that neither the district administration nor the Odisha government is taking any measure to address this problem. Despite the Union Home Ministry's directive after the 2008 Mumbai attacks, there has been no significant effort to keep a check on these infiltrators and identify those involved in any subversive activities.
In the past, this district has had some alarming incidents related to terrorism. In 2018, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested suspected terrorist Habibur Raheman from Tyendakura village under Patkura police limits. Similarly, in 2007, Mohammed Javed of Ranapada village was arrested near the India-Pakistan border in Rajasthan. However, he was later released on bail and has been missing since 2010. The discovery of a radio station inside the Bhitarkanika National Park had also caused panic among the locals. It is believed that most of these illegal immigrants from Bangladesh are using the coastline as their gateway to enter the district.
Ramesh Chandra Sutar, a senior resident of the town, shared that the district administration had identified 1,551 illegal Bangladeshi nationals in 2005. However, the number has drastically increased since then. Despite the efforts of the district administration to deport these illegal immigrants, most of them have taken the legal route and are still residing in the district. This has caused a backlog of pending cases in the courts. To protect the coastline, three marine police stations have been set up, but they are understaffed and lack the necessary equipment to effectively prevent infiltration.
Social activist Amarbar Biswal stated that these illegal Bangladeshi nationals have a stronghold in the local population and are also helping new immigrants enter the district. Upon arrival, they are provided with false documents such as birth certificates and education certificates to prove their local origins. Many of them have also taken advantage of government schemes to acquire land and construct houses. Another social activist, Pratap Kumar Padhi, raised concerns that if this issue is not addressed soon, Kendrapara may become a safe haven for terrorists.
When contacted, SDPO Debendra Mallick assured that the three marine police stations' infrastructure is being upgraded, and new staff will be brought in to tackle the issue of infiltration. However, it is high time that the district administration and the government take decisive action to prevent any further infiltration and protect the district from any potential threats. The safety and well-being of the original residents of Kendrapara must be the top priority.
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