New Delhi: The Delhi Police’s Central District Special Staff has apprehended six Bangladeshi nationals for allegedly violating the conditions of their Indian visas during a special verification drive conducted under “Operation VISTA 1.0 (Visa Status Verification)”, officials said on Sunday.
According to a press release issued by the Central District Police, the operation was launched by the Foreigner Cell of the Special Staff to identify foreign nationals overstaying or violating visa conditions in the national capital.
Police said the six Bangladeshi nationals were found staying at a hotel on Arakashan Road in the Nabi Karim area during an inspection of hotels and guest houses across the Central District.
Verification of their passports, visas and immigration records revealed that all six had entered India on Double Entry Visas, which permitted them to stay in the country for a maximum of 15 days per visit. However, they allegedly remained in India beyond the permissible period, violating the conditions of their visas.
“Verification of their passports, visas and immigration records revealed that all six had entered India on Double Entry Visas, under which they were permitted to stay in India for a maximum period of 15 days per visit. However, they had remained in India beyond the permissible period, thereby violating the conditions of their visas,” the police said in the release.
The apprehended individuals have been identified as Shafi Imam Nafis Siddiquee (31) and Eahea Ahtesham (31), both residents of Sylhet, Bangladesh; Asif Molla (21) and Hasan Sheikh (24), residents of Gopalganj, Bangladesh; and MD Bulbul Hossain (20) and Most Tisha Khatun (21), residents of Sirajganj, Bangladesh.
The operation was carried out under the leadership of Inspector Sandeep Yadav, in-charge of the Special Staff, Central District, under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner of Police Padam Singh Rana. A team comprising police personnel from the Foreigner Cell conducted systematic verification of hotels, guest houses and other establishments accommodating foreign nationals.
During questioning, the six Bangladeshi nationals reportedly admitted that they had entered India legally on valid Double Entry Visas and were staying at a hotel in Central Delhi. Police said scrutiny of their travel documents established that although the visas were valid, each visit allowed a maximum stay of only 15 days. The individuals allegedly exceeded the permissible duration without obtaining any extension or authorisation from the competent authority.
Following verification, all six were produced before the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), which initiated legal proceedings and issued Restriction Orders.
The police said the FRRO has directed that all six be lodged at the Detention Centre, Sewa Dham, Shahzada Bagh, Sarai Rohilla, pending completion of deportation formalities.
The police also seized six Bangladeshi passports, six Indian Double Entry Visas, immigration and travel-related documents, and hotel stay records as part of the legal proceedings.
According to the press release, no previous criminal involvement of any of the six Bangladeshi nationals has come to light during verification. The police said the present action “pertains exclusively to violation of visa conditions by overstaying beyond the permissible period prescribed under their visas.”
(IANS)
