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Time of India
11-07-2025
- Time of India
274 more released after proving Indian citizenship
Bhubaneswar: Police in Jharsuguda released 274 more individuals from the two holdings centres in the district, taking the total number of people allowed to leave to 403, after documents proved their Indian citizenship. Confirming the development, Inspector General (Northern Range) Himanshu Lal said document verification process of the rest 44 are still underway. The police had brought a total of 447 to the two centres to detect illegal Bangladeshi settlers. While 444 were brought to the centres on Tuesday, three others had joined them in the past three days. Police had released 25 on Wednesday and 104 on Thursday. TNN
Hans India
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Odisha Detention Of 444 Workers Sparks Political Controversy Over Bengali Migrants
A major political controversy has erupted between the Odisha government and West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress following the detention of 444 individuals suspected of being Bangladeshi nationals. The dispute centers on whether these detainees are illegal immigrants or legitimate Bengali-speaking migrant workers from various districts in West Bengal. The controversy began when Odisha authorities launched a special campaign targeting illegal immigrants in Jharsuguda district. Intelligence reports had indicated a significant presence of Bangladeshi nationals in the area, prompting law enforcement action. The detained individuals were unable to provide valid residency or citizenship documentation when questioned by authorities. Himanshu Lal, Inspector General of Police for the Northern Range in Sambalpur, defended the operation by emphasizing that it was not targeting any specific community or region. He stated that the detentions were based solely on the lack of proper documentation to establish residency or citizenship status, and that the procedure was implemented to ensure national security. However, the Trinamool Congress has strongly contested this characterization, alleging that more than 200 of the detained individuals are migrant workers from West Bengal districts including Nadia, Murshidabad, Malda, Birbhum, Purba Bardhaman, and South 24 Parganas. The party claims that authorities specifically targeted colonies where Bengali-speaking laborers reside. Trinamool Rajya Sabha MP Samirul Islam criticized the detentions as systematic harassment of Bengali-speaking workers, questioning whether their only fault was speaking Bengali. He directly challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, asking what grievance they held against these economically disadvantaged Bengali workers. Leading the Trinamool's response has been MP Mahua Moitra, who revealed that 23 workers from her constituency were among those detained. She emphasized that such incidents never occurred during the previous Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government's tenure in Odisha. Moitra also warned of potential economic consequences for Odisha if Bengali tourists boycott the state. The economic argument carries significant weight, as Bengali tourists contribute approximately 14% of Odisha's total domestic tourist arrivals, particularly to religious destinations like Puri's Jagannath temple. Moitra estimated that 50% of Odisha's tourism revenue comes from Bengali visitors who frequent hotels, restaurants, and pilgrimage sites throughout the state. To support her claims, Moitra shared a video featuring a detainee who insisted that he and his fellow workers were Indian citizens, not Bangladeshi nationals. She later escalated her criticism when two workers from her constituency remained detained allegedly because their phones contained Bangladeshi contact numbers, drawing a satirical comparison to cricket officials who might have international contacts. The BJP has responded through IT Cell chief Amit Malviya, who accused the Trinamool Congress of facilitating Bangladeshi infiltration. He claimed that 335 out of 444 detainees possessed fraudulent documents issued by the West Bengal government, warning other states to exercise caution when hiring workers with Bengal-issued documentation. The controversy has reached the judicial system, with the Calcutta High Court intervening to question the Odisha government's actions. The court demanded explanations about the current location of the migrant workers, the basis for their detention, and any legal proceedings initiated against them. Following a petition filed by a father whose son was among the detainees, the High Court's division bench directed the West Bengal chief secretary to coordinate with his Odisha counterpart to ensure the release of the migrant workers. This judicial intervention has added legal pressure to the political dispute. The incident has highlighted broader tensions surrounding migration, documentation, and the identification of illegal immigrants in India. It has also exposed the complex relationship between state governments of different political parties when dealing with interstate migration and security concerns. As the controversy continues to unfold, the Odisha government has begun releasing some of the detained individuals, though the political ramifications and questions about proper procedures for handling suspected illegal immigrants remain unresolved.
India Today
11-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Bangladeshis or Bengali migrants? Trinamool vs BJP over detention of 444 workers
The Odisha government's move to detain 444 suspected Bangladeshi nationals has sparked a slugfest with the ruling Trinamool Congress, which has claimed that most of them were Bengali-speaking migrant workers. The issue, simmering over the past few days, has also reached the Calcutta High Court, which posed tough questions to the Odisha government on the row started after the Odisha government, in a special campaign to crack down on illegal immigrants, detained 444 individuals in Jharsuguda district. Sources told India Today that intel inputs had flagged the presence of a significant number of Bangladeshi nationals in the NO VALID DOCUMENTS: ODISHAAn Odisha police officer said they were detained upon failing to provide valid residency or citizenship documents, and underscored that the police were not targeting any community or region. "The individuals under scrutiny lack valid documentation to establish their residency or citizenship... This procedure is not about targeting any community or region but about ensuring the security of our nation," Himanshu Lal, IGP of Northern Range, Sambalpur, CONGRESS HITS BACKHowever, the Trinamool Congress has alleged that the detainees included over 200 migrant workers from Bengal districts such as Nadia, Murshidabad, Malda, Birbhum, Purba Bardhaman and South 24 ruling party in Bengal has alleged that raids were specifically conducted in colonies where Bengali-speaking labourers reside."Atrocities against Bengali-speaking migrant workers continue in Odisha... The BJP government recently detained over 200 migrant workers from Bengal districts on suspicion of being Bangladeshi nationals," TMC Rajya Sabha MP Samirul Islam tweeted."What is their fault? That they speak Bengali? What grudge do Narendra Modi and Amit Shah hold against these poor Bengalis?" he further MOITRA SLAMS MOHAN MAJHI GOVTLeading the charge for the Trinamool has been its fiery MP Mahua Moitra, who first claimed that 23 workers from her constituency were among those emphasised that such incidents never took place during the regime of the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government. She also warned that Odisha's economy would take a hit if Bengali tourists stop visiting the state."50% of Odisha's tourism revenue comes from Bengali tourists. They are the ones who stay in your hotels, eat at your restaurants, visit your pilgrimage sites. What if Bengali tourists stop going to Odisha?" Moitra Sheikh & Mohir Munshi with verified documents still being detained illegally by Odisha only because of a Bangladeshi phone number on their phones! All BCCI members should be detained by the same logic! @SecyChief @DGPOdisha @himanshulalips @Naveen_Odisha Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) July 11, 2025Bengal is a major contributor to Odisha's tourist influx. Bengali tourists account for around 14% of total domestic arrivals, especially in Puri, which is home to the iconic Jagannath also posted a video in which a man, kept in a large hall with other detainees, says that they were Indians and not Bangladeshi the massive uproar, the Odisha government has released some of the Friday, Moitra targeted the Mohan Charan Majhi government again, claiming two of the 23 workers from her constituency were still being held as their phones had Bangladeshi contact numbers."Robiul Sheikh and Mohir Munshi with verified documents still being detained illegally by Odisha only because of a Bangladeshi phone number on their phones! All BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) members should be detained by the same logic," Moitra BLAMES TMC FOR INFILTRATIONCountering Moitra, whom he dubbed a "loudmouth", BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya alleged that the Trinamool was flooding India with Bangladeshi infiltrators."335 out of 444 had fake documents - issued by none other than the TMC government in West Bengal. Every state must be extremely cautious while hiring labour or employees carrying fake Bengal-issued documents," Malviya REACHES HIGH COURTThe matter also reached the Calcutta High Court, which pulled up the Odisha government over the detentions."Where are the migrant workers now? On what basis were they detained? Has any action been taken against them?," the court division bench subsequently directed the Bengal chief secretary to coordinate with his Odisha counterpart to ensure the release of the migrant High Court's direction came after a petition was filed by a person who claimed his son, who went to Odisha in search of a job, was among the detainees.- Ends
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Time of India
Cops check identity documents of individuals in Sambalpur city
1 2 Bhubaneswar: Police checked identity documents of scores of people in Sambalpur city on Thursday on suspicion of them being illegal Bangladeshi nationals even as 104 more individuals were released in Jharsuguda after they showed documents proving their Indian citizenship. These 104 join the 25 released on Wednesday out of the 444 detained in two holding centres in Jharsuguda since Tuesday on suspicion of being illegal settlers. Confirming the checking in Sambalpur, IG (Northern Range) Himanshu Lal said, "It's an ongoing process. The verification is on in different areas." Police sources said several men were asked to come to Dhanupali police station with documents to prove their citizenship. The men checked were mostly non-Odia workers, engaged in construction activities and staying in temporary shelters. The verification process was on till the filing of this report. Sources said there were local intelligence inputs about the suspected foreign nationals staying in the locality for past some months and engaged mostly in construction works.
The Hindu
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Migrant workers from West Bengal allege ill-treatment by Odisha Police
Migrant workers from West Bengal say they are being harassed by the Odisha police, who are in the process of verifying the identities of Bengali-speaking people suspected to be foreign nationals, including Bangladeshis and Rohingyas. Over the past three days, the Jharsuguda police have detained 444 people working in the construction and mining sectors, verifying their identities as part of an ongoing drive to deport Bangladeshis and Rohingiyas from the country. According to the police, the primary documents being sought are birth certificates and passports. Also read: Trinamool claims migrant workers from Bengal illegally detained in Odisha However, many of the detained workers hail from rural areas of West Bengal and do not possess formal birth certificates. In the absence of this key document, their release is being delayed. Alternate document delays 'My brother-in-law is 37 years old. No one from our locality used to apply for birth certificates at the time of his birth. We never imagined that one day we would be asked to produce a birth certificate to prove our Indian nationality,' said the relative of a detained migrant worker. As detentions drag on, anxious family members say they have submitted land documents from Murshidabad and Hooghly, and their relatives' Aadhaar cards in an attempt to secure their release. However, police are reportedly slow in processing these alternative proofs. Employers endorsement needed Workers who spoke to The Hindu did so on the condition of anonymity, fearing reprisals from the police. 'We were picked up at 2:30 a.m. They took away our phones, so we could not immediately inform our families. They handed out forms requiring supporting documents like a birth certificate, Aadhaar card, PAN card, and voter ID. Luckily, I managed to get my birth certificate sent to me. I was released after two days,' said a worker who was freed on Wednesday (July 9, 2025). Following their release, the workers were allowed to return to their local residences and jobs, where they are employed as masons, mining labourers, and tile workers. However, employers have also reportedly been asked by the police to submit video evidence confirming their association with the detained individuals. 'Dignity was missing' 'Conditions in the holding centres were described as worse than jail. For nearly 500 migrant workers, there were only three bathrooms,' said a worker. 'The day began with a cup of red tea, followed by dry flattened rice and jaggery for breakfast. There were no plates provided — dignity was missing. Lunch was served at 2:30 p.m. and dinner at 11:30 p.m., usually rice and dalma (dal cooked with vegetables). We were not allowed to arrange food from outside. We did not commit any crime to be treated like this,' said one worker. The Odisha police remained tight-lipped about their detention of migrant workers from West Bengal. Queries sent to Himanshu Lal, Inspector General of Police (Northern Range), and Jharsuguda Superintendent of Police Parmar Smit Parshottamdas yielded no results. Even the designated nodal officer for sharing information on the detained workers refused to comment.
