Malkangiri: Even as the local administration has failed to stop the influx of illegal immigrants, especially those from Bangladesh, to the district, some officials have bent the rules to grant them permanent citizenship, a report obtained through RTI revealed.
According to sources, Brajen Majumdar, a Bangla resident, was working as a helping hand in the house of Hajari Majumdar of MPV-39 (Bejangwada) in 1990. Hajari was given citizenship by the Central government during rehabilitation of the refugees and got voter identity cards in the name of his family members.
However, Brajen who only shared the surname with Hajari went on to claim a permanent citizenship by managing a voter identity card in his name.
Brajen had paid some money to Hajari to get his name mentioned in the family ration card of the latter. Hajari admitted the fact which was recorded in an audio tape, it was learnt.
Meanwhile, Brajen also managed to get scheduled caste certificate from Kalimela tehsil office with the help of Bejangwada revenue inspector. Cashing in on the opportunity, he managed a ration card in his and his brother’s name. At present, he has got voter identity cards and Aadhaar cards and is lifting PDS material in the name of 10 persons of his family from the panchayat office.
Brajen has also enjoyed all benefits meant for persons of SC category and later purchased a piece of land in MV-13 village where he has settled down after building a house. He had purchased the land from Hrushikesh Bhattacharya of the village. Irregularities were committed in the sale-purchase of this land too.
During settlement operation of 1992, it was clearly mentioned on the pattas that the lands granted to the refugees can be neither transferable nor saleable to others for the next 10 years. But Brajen had purchased the land from Bhattacharya in 1997, just five years after the settlement operation.
Meanwhile, Bhattacharya’s other family members lodged a complaint with the Collector against Brajen over his suspected nationality. On being directed by the Collector, Kalimela tehsildar probed the matter and found Brajen was a foreign national.
Brajen’s case is only the tip of the iceberg and there are more than 2,000 trespassers in the district who have been enjoying permanent citizenship of the state. While the genuine citizens fail to get the benefit of the government schemes, these foreign nationals are enjoying all benefits, said Soumitra Bhattacharya, son of Hrushikesh Bhattacharya, who obtained the details through RTI Act.
Malkangiri tehsildar Prita Kumar said she has not received any complaints in this regard. The said land patta would be cancelled if the allegations are found true, she added.
Brajen couldn’t be contacted over the issue.
PNN