TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Following the murder of a Nigerian national at Parra and the riot at Porvorim last week, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday moved to deport Nigerian nationals overstaying illegally in the state by announcing that his government would be withdrawing all cases ~ except those related to heinous crimes filed against Nigerian nationals ~ which are pending in various courts in Goa, subject to valid documentation being in place.
The government will also seek the court’s permission for withdrawal of those cases wherein chargesheets have been filed against Nigerian nationals, Parrikar, who holds the home portfolio, told the media.
“We would withdraw cases and (then) deport them if they do not have valid documentation for stay,” the chief minister said, emphasizing that “cases against those involved in heinous crimes such as rape, murder, etc will not be withdrawn.” Most of the cases pending against Nigerians nationals are related to the narcotics trade.
Parrikar admitted that the popular perception that most Nigerians staying in Goa do not have valid travel and stay documents, including passports and visas, was indeed based on fact. He said that the Nigerian High Commission in New Delhi had been asked by the state government to provide copies of passports/travel documents of Nigerian nationals who have entered Goa.
It may be recalled that last Thursday police arrested 52 Nigerians for attempting to murder police personnel and for rioting on the national highway 17 at Porvorim, all of whom have been remanded to 14 days police custody.
The chief minister pointed out that this year the state government had deported about 13 foreigners for overstaying in Goa, while at the same time reiterating that deportation “is not an easy process”.
“Foreigners sometimes do not have valid passports, and have court cases proceedings going on against them and other such hurdles,” Parrikar said. He warned that severe action would be taken against clubs, pubs and other establishments patronizing foreigners involved in illegal activities in Goa.
The Foreigners’ Registration Office (FRO) has already begun verifying the passports and travel documents of the 54 Nigerians who are in custody. Since 2010, 11 Nigerian nationals have been deported and over 45 cases have been registered against them in Goa for their alleged involvement in the drug trade. As reported by Herald earlier, though an estimated 500 Nigerian nationals are currently living in Goa, only 19 are registered with the FRO and are here on business, employment, PIO and medical visas.
