72 criminal cases booked against foreigners

NT NETWORK
Posted on 2007-01-08
PANAJI- At least 72 criminal offences have been booked against foreigners in various police stations all over the state during the last year, say police.
The Deputy Superintendent of Police, foreigners’ branch, Ms Reena Torcato informed that these offences include criminal cases under the Narcotic Drugs Psychotherapeutic Substances Act and Indian Penal Code. Offences also include overstaying and violation of Motor Vehicle Act, she said while speaking to ‘The Navhind Times’.
“The offences have been booked against Nepalese, Israelis, Germans, Russians, Nigerians, British, Italians, Australians, Kenyans, Dominicans, Spanish, Finnish, Filipinos, Dutch, Ukrainians, Iranians, Tanzanians, Portuguese, Argentinians, Africans, Japanese, Azerbaijanis and Lithuanians,” said Ms Torcato.
Most of the NDPS cases have been booked against Nepalese followed by Japanese, Israelis, Germans and British. Eleven cases have been booked against Russians for violating the Indian Penal Code and the cases involved are of assault, abuse, road accidents and other minor offences. This is followed by British, Nepalese, Nigerians, Australians, Ukrainians, Portuguese besides Belarians, Italians, Spanish and others.
In case of overstaying and violation of 7(i)(ii) of the Foreigners’ Order, 1948 read with 14 of Foreigners’ Act, 1946, British top the list followed by Russians and Germans, Sudanese, Nigerians, Filipinos, Israelis, Spanish, Italians, Belarians, Finnish, Azerbaijanis and an Oman national. In cases concerning overstaying, these nationals are produced before the JMFC court and consequently they need to pay fine, informed Ms Reena Torcato and added that they are then deported to their countries.
The Deputy Superintendent of Police informed that after receiving any information about crimes committed by foreigners, the police immediately contact the concerned embassy and seize the person’s passport.
She further added that the person’s passport is returned only on confirmation that his or her presence is not required anymore in the case. On receiving information from any police stations in the state about foreigners falling sick and being admitted to any state hospitals, the foreigners’ registration office immediately informs the concerned embassy officials, she informed.