Odisha Family Seeks 14 Kin Deported as Bangladeshis, Considers Legal Action
In a distressing turn of events, a family from Odisha is grappling with the disappearance of 14 relatives who were deported on suspicion of being undocumented Bangladeshis in November 2025. The family, claiming decades-long roots in the state, is now planning to move court to locate their loved ones, amid fears of re-deportation and separation across the border.
The Deportation and Its Aftermath
Sheikh Rabani, a resident of Chapali village in Kendrapada district, has been left with numerous unanswered questions after 14 members of his extended family were picked up by authorities. The group included his sister Mairun Bibi, her husband Sheikh Raja, their three young children, and nine other relatives from Dhanipur village in Jagatsinghpur district. According to the Odisha Police, these individuals were handed over to the Border Security Force (BSF) and pushed into Bangladesh as part of directives from the state and central governments.
Rabani, a 32-year-old mason, recounted his futile attempts to gather information from the local police station. We were told they were detained on the suspicion of being undocumented Bangladeshis, he said, adding that requests to reveal their whereabouts were met with silence. The family later learned through relatives that the group had been forced into Bangladesh, but contact has been sporadic and uncertain.
Family History and Documentation Issues
The family asserts a long-standing presence in India, with Rabani stating that he and his seven siblings were born and educated in Kendrapada. Their late father was also born in India, raising questions about why their documents were deemed insufficient. In a similar incident, two of Rabani's elder brothers were detained but released after producing various documents proving their Indian citizenship.
Rahima Bibi, 68, a relative living in Bengal's Purba Medinipur, explained that her brothers, including Mairun's father-in-law Jabbar, relocated from South 24 Parganas in Bengal to Jagatsinghpur decades ago. She received a call indicating that Jabbar's entire family had been forced into Bangladesh, despite having documents to support their Indian identity. Her nephew, Ruhulamin Khan, is now exploring legal remedies to bring them back.
Confusion Over Re-deportation and Current Whereabouts
Ruhulamin Khan provided a harrowing account of the family's ordeal. He stated that one of the 14 managed to call from Bangladesh in early January, informing them they had regrouped in Chattogram. However, this was the last contact, and their current status remains unknown. According to Khan, the BSF initially deported the group from near Nadia, but the Border Guard Bangladesh sent them back, citing lack of proof of Bangladeshi citizenship. The BSF then reportedly spotted them again at the Hili border in West Bengal and re-deported them via the Sylhet border after two days.
Officials from the Odisha Police clarified that they acted in accordance with Union Home Ministry guidelines, which require illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar to be sent to shelter homes after verification. The state police has no responsibility once they are handed over. The BSF takes care of further processes, a senior police officer said.
Odisha Police Crackdown on Illegal Immigrants
The deportation occurred amid a broader crackdown by the Odisha Police. On November 16, 2025, raids were conducted in Dhanipur following intelligence about an organized racket harboring illegal immigrants. Police seized weapons and arrested alleged mastermind Sikander Alam and his brother. Subsequently, structures believed to be occupied by illegal immigrants were demolished.
Jagatsinghpur SP Ankit Verma emphasized that deportations are carried out only after thorough verification and as per the law. We have confessions of people who, during the verification process, admitted they were from Bangladesh, he stated. As of December 1, 2025, authorities had verified 1,760 suspected persons, releasing 1,667 based on documents like Aadhaar or voter ID cards, with 50 cases pending verification across districts.
Political and Social Reactions
The issue has sparked political debate. Former Jagatsinghpur MLA Prasanta Muduli of the BJD criticized the exercise as an eyewash, calling for a permanent solution to address the presence of suspected Bangladeshis in coastal areas. In contrast, BJP MLA Durga Prasanna Nayak supported the government's policy based on thorough verification and efforts to strengthen marine police stations to prevent infiltration.
With no other families having taken legal action against deportations in Odisha so far, Rabani's family stands at a crossroads, hoping the courts can provide answers and reunite them with their missing kin.
