No Rohingya deportation in three years: MHA

No Rohingya has been deported in the last three years while 330 Pakistan and 1,770 Bangladesh nationals were sent back to their native countries in the same period, Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju informed the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

In a written reply, the Minister, however, said it was not possible to have a correct estimate of migrants who enter the country without valid travel documents.

He said the central government is vested with powers to deport a foreign national under Section 3(2)(c) of the Foreigners Act, 1946.

"These powers to identify and deport foreign nationals illegally staying in the country have also been delegated to the state governments and union territory administrations and the Bureau of Immigration under the said Act.

"Detection and deportation of such illegal immigrants is a continuous process. A revised procedure for the detection and deportation of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants was communicated to the states and union territories in November 2009, which was partially modified in February 2011 and further modified in February 2013," Rijiju said.

The procedure includes sending back then and there the illegal immigrants who are intercepted at the borders while entering India illegally, the Minister said.

He said the central government was also implementing a mission-mode project on Immigration, Visa and Foreigners Registration and Tracking (IVFRT) which will facilitate improved tracking of foreigners by integrating and sharing information captured during visa issuance at missions, during checks at immigration check posts and during registration at the offices of the Foreigners Regional Registration Officers.

The Minister confirmed some instances of violation of law and involvement of foreign nationals in illegal activities.

He said that registration of cases and action thereon comes within the purview of the police stations and state governments and union territory administrations concerned, but he did not give data regarding the issue, saying that "statistical data of this nature is not centrally maintained".

Law enforcement agencies also maintain a strict vigil on the activities of foreigners in the country and take appropriate action in cases of illegal activities, Rijiju added.

--IANS

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