Deporting Nigerians not an easy task for Goa Govt
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 04 November 2013 22:52 IST
Deporting Nigerians is not an easy task and no foreign national can be stopped from visiting and staying in any part of India legally, Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar has clarified.
However, he has also asserted that no Nigerian national living in Goa without valid documents would be allowed to overstay but would be deported immediately.
As a step ahead in this regard, Goa government has also decided to drop minor criminal cases against some Nigerians, who are held up in Goa even after expiry of their visas.
Deportation of Nigerians had become a hot issue after a group of around 60 Nigerian youth created a ruckus over murder of one of their colleagues last week by blocking a national highway and even attacking the police.
Following this incident, the state authorities have started verifying documents of all the Nigerians as Michael Lobo, one of Parrikar’s party legislator from Calangute, alleged that hundreds of Nigerians are living in Goa illegally as they are involved in drug trade.
“Our verification shows that many Nigerians have a photocopy of their passports or visas, which we are sending to the embassy for authentication”, said Parrikar.
He plans to deport the Nigerians, staying here with fake or no documents, once the authentication is received.
It was also alleged that some Nigerians deliberately get involved in petty crimes, a court case against which goes on for years while they are bailed out.
“They continue their illegal activity like drug trade while out on a bail”, Lobo had said.
“We will drop all these cases and send these Nigerians back in case their visas have expired”, said Parrikar.
However, he also clarified that those serving a jail term or involved in major crime would continue to remain in Goa, till the case is disposed off.
Goa government has in the past deported 11 such Nigerians, for not having valid documents, in last three years.
Incidentally, the Foreign Registration Office of the police department has a data of only 19 Nigerians registered with them.
However, the Goa police have already arrested 53 Nigerians in a road blockade incident that occurred on 31 October.
Chief minister Parrikar is also on record, stating that Goa has not less than 150 Nigerians.
Nigerians come here either as tourists and students as well as for business or employment purpose.
