TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: To ascertain the citizenship of the total 53 Africans ~52 claming to be Nigerians~ imprisoned in connection with attempted murder and rioting at Parra and Porvorim, the Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in Goa will seek their identity verification from the Nigerian Embassy.
Goa police have already confirmed that 38 of the total 53, all of whom are lodged separately at Aguada Central Jail, Sada sub-jail and Mapusa judicial lock-up, do not possess travel documents.
The police concede that absence of valid and recognized documents is a big hurdle while implementing deportation procedures. “Without valid documents, nobody (offending foreign nationals) can be expelled from India. The other country will refuse their entry,” explained FRRO SP Tony Fernandes.
The department has decided to approach the Nigerian Embassy seeking names, addresses and date of birth of each African lodged in the jails. “Once it is confirmed which country they belong to and after completing legal formalities, their deportation process will follow. If they cannot afford to buy tickets, government will bear the expenses,” he informed.
“We will be writing to the Embassy soon. Until then, we are carrying out an independent inquiry to determine their nationality,” he said further. Those who have produced photo copies of their passports/visas will also undergo scrutiny.
All 53 have been charged with wrongful restrain, attempt to murder, rioting, preventing public servants from discharging their duties, Section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and Section 8 (b) of the National Highway Act, 1956.
Their judicial remand will end later this week and bail pleas filed by some of them, will also be heard.
Lack of a designated ‘detention cell’ for deporting such offenders has also been a challenge for the local authorities.
