A delegation of the Malkangiri Bangali Samaj (MBS), representing around four lakh displaced Hindu Bengalis resettled in Malkangiri district, met several central leaders, alleging attempts to portray them as temporary settlers, land encroachers and “Bangladeshi anuprabeshkari” (infiltrators). Santosh and MP Sambit Patra in New Delhi, urging intervention against what they termed as “false narratives” targeting the Bengali settlers. MBS president Gouranga Karmakar said: “We are settled across 214 villages in the backward Malkangiri district. The memorandum alleged that more than 5,000 attackers, including people from neighbouring Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, used dynamite, gelatine sticks, firebombs, axes, arrows and other weapons. “We also demand a high-level review to consider modification of the Fifth Schedule status for Malkangiri district so that balanced development, employment generation and industrialisation can take place without discrimination.

Source: The Telegraph February 14, 2026 20:29 UTC