24 foreign nationals deported this year

by SHAIKH JAMALUDDIN
Posted on 2008-08-27
PANAJI- Cracking down on foreign nationals for various offences, the foreigner branch of the Goa police has deported 24 foreign nationals, this year. These foreign nationals have been deported for their involvement in offences under the NDPS Act, overstaying without valid passport or valid visa and other cases. Some of the deportees are those who had been acquitted in various cases.
The deputy superintendent of police, foreigners branch, Ms Reena Torcato informed that the deported include three Germans, three Russians, three Britons, two Sudanese, two Filipinos, one Nigerian, one Dominican, one Finnish, two Israelis, one Belarus national, one Iranian and one Italian national.
The Italian has been deported for an IPC case against him, while the two Israelis have been deported for their involvement in drug peddling.
Last year, 39 cases were booked against foreign nationals. Subsequently all the booked foreign nationals were deported to their countries after disposal of cases. Some of the last year’s deportees were acquitted of offences, she informed.
Ms Torcato said the police tightened the screws on foreign nationals who are involved in various crimes, and has urged the home department of the Goa government to move the ministry of home affairs so that the ministry could direct Indian embassies to deny the foreign offenders visas for India, black list them and ban their re-entry into the country.
Stating that it was very difficult to keep record of those tourists who visit the state for a short duration, the DySP informed that the police have details on long-term visa holders.
The foreigners who enter the country on visa with validity for more than six months have to register themselves with the foreigners’ registration office under Rule 7 (1)(b) 2(b) of Registration of Foreigners Rules, 1992. However, those foreign tourists who want to stay here for not more than six months, they need not register themselves with the foreigners’ registration office. This year, the foreigners’ branch collected an amount of Rs 2,12,300 as registration charges, while the last year an amount of Rs 3,12,700 was collected, Ms Torcato informed.
There are 3644 foreign nationals, including persons of Indian origin cardholders, staying in the state on long-term visas like business visa, employment visa, student visa, entry visa etc. The foreign nationals holding visas other than tourist visas can apply for extension. Detail reports in all such cases are forwarded to the government after a thorough enquiry into their activities and reasons for application for extension, she said.