Paradip: On Monday, the Jagatsinghpur district administration tore down a house built illegally on government property, where some individuals suspected to be Bangladeshis were residing, according to an official. This action followed an incident the previous day in which two police officers, including a female constable, sustained injuries during an altercation with the house’s occupants at Beherampur basti, under the jurisdiction of Jagatsinghpur Sadar police station. A senior Magistrate present during the demolition stated, “The house was constructed on encroached government land and was suspected of providing shelter to Bangladeshis. The occupants fled after assailing the police on Sunday.” Jagatsinghpur District Collector J Sonal, who oversaw the demolition, remarked that actions are being executed in compliance with legal standards.
“We will take strict action against field officials who permitted the construction of this illegal house on government land and facilitated its electricity supply,” he noted. The Collector added that the district administration is coordinating with the West Bengal government to ascertain whether some of the individuals were from the neighboring state, as claimed by those living in the house, or if they were indeed Bangladeshis. An inquiry is ongoing to determine how the group arrived, who provided them shelter, and if they have connections to organized crime. The administration plans to inspect other potential illegal constructions within the district. To ensure law and order, two platoons of police (60 personnel) have been deployed in the vicinity.
Jagatsinghpur SP Ankit Kumar Verma reported that two police officers were injured during the operation on Sunday. Two individuals have been arrested in connection with the assault on the police and have been presented to the court. The SP mentioned that law enforcement recovered a pistol, several swords, and other deadly weapons from the residence. “The police have assembled a team to apprehend the occupants of the house, who escaped during the raid,” he added. However, initial investigations indicated that approximately 30 suspected Bangladeshis had been residing in the residence of Siku Khan, a local. While 18 individuals had previously relocated, others remained. The group’s leader has been identified as Sikandar Alam.
