Odisha Police Probe Terror Links of Accused Housing Illegal Bangladeshi Immigrants
Jagatsinghpur authorities probe possible extremist links after massive crackdown.
Jagatsinghpur police have launched a high-priority investigation into potential terror connections of prime accused Sikandar Alam, who allegedly harboured nearly 30 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in unauthorised structures on government land for over four years. Sikandar remains at large after fleeing his residence and removing CCTV hard disks.
On Monday, the district administration demolished 17 illegal houses — ten in Behrampur slum and seven in Satapura village — that were constructed by Sikandar through systematic encroachment. His siblings Abdul Motalif Khan, Sawan Ajmi, Parween Bibi, and Badrunisha are accused of actively assisting in sheltering the infiltrators; Sawan and Parween have been arrested, while the remaining three, including Sikandar, are evading capture.
Investigators have uncovered that the Bangladeshi nationals were provided fraudulent identity documents, including fake Aadhaar cards and birth certificates, enabling them to remain undetected despite the presence of intelligence, police, and revenue officials in the area. Sikandar’s decade-long employment in the merchant navy and an oil refinery, involving travel to at least five countries, along with his operation of an unregistered madrasa, has heightened suspicions of links to extremist modules.
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Authorities have seized Sikandar’s passport and vehicle, detained 21 individuals, and confirmed 18 as illegal immigrants who have been transferred to a detention centre. Incriminating items recovered include condoms, pregnancy test kits, and suspected fake documents sourced from West Bengal, raising concerns of human trafficking and exploitation, particularly of women and girls from Bangladesh.
The case has exposed significant administrative lapses, prompting show-cause notices and salary suspension for local revenue inspector Manikanta Biswal and supervisor Rashmiranjan Behera. Police have intensified efforts to apprehend Sikandar and his associates while expanding the probe to dismantle any broader network involved in infiltration and potential terror-related activities.
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