FRRO in the dark over the status of expelled tourists
PANJIM: The Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), that keeps a track of foreign nationals coming and going out of the country, appears not informed whether foreigners, who are ordered to leave India have actually been deported.
PANJIM: The Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), that keeps a track of foreign nationals coming and going out of the country, appears not informed whether foreigners, who are ordered to leave India have actually been deported.
In the last over two and half months, the FRRO had issued deportation orders on six Russians and a Ukranian, following reports from Tourism Department that they were illegally carrying businesses in Goa.
A ‘leave India’ notice was issued to all of them with intimation to the respective police stations and Dabolim Airport Immigration as well to ensure they do not stay back. These agencies in turn confirm to the FRRO about their departure details.
The deportation dates were of November 22, 2013, November 29, 2013 and January 25, 2014 and ironically, the Calangute police station where these foreign nationals were booked for the offences, has not informed the FRRO regarding their departure.
“We are waiting for a report from the Calangute police. We are certain they are deported but officially it has not been confirmed to us as the same report has to be forwarded to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, Delhi,” a highly placed source from the Secretariat told Herald.
In the recent months, the Tourism Department requested the FRRO to initiate stern action against seven foreigners including six Russians after the Calangute police arrested them for illegally working as tourist guides and backstage artists at Aguada Fort, Dudhsagar falls and other tourist hot spots. They were released after paying Rs 10,000 each to tourism department with a warning not to indulge in the activity again.
Meanwhile, in three more cases, one that of a Russian has been referred to Varanasi (UP) FRRO since the tourist landed there, while the second one is being investigated since the foreign national arrived on a business visa. The third case has been referred back to Calangute police since the foreigner was not found with a passport which hitherto cannot establish his nationality.
“The FRRO endorses on the passports of the respective foreign nationals regarding the action taken by tourism director and accordingly an order is issued to leave India,” said the officer.
Secretariat sources said they apprehend that with lenient attitude of the police department, the foreigners who are issued deportation orders probably violate the order.
The charges against the Russians are however being rubbished by their representative in Goa who claims the tourists were mere spectators of a movie shoot at Aguada and that none of those deported were indulged in touting business.
“Russians cannot visit Goa without adequate number of translators to handle medical or legal emergencies. The Russian translators are the life line of tourism from Russia. Arrest and deportation of this critical life line, would definitely result in the reduction of tourism from this friendly nation,” Advocate Vikram Varma said.
