Special squad to keep eye on foreign nationals in Pune

The special branch of the Pune Police has formed a squad to keep an eye on foreign nationals visiting the city for various purposes. It will be headed by an inspector and consist of 10 other police personnel. 

The squad would responsible for tracking the movements of foreigners in the city. Foreigners would have to furnish relevant information to the police and in case of any discrepancy the squad would take necessary legal action against them. 

The deputy commissioner of police (special branch), Makarand Ranade, told DNA the purpose of having a dedicated squad was to find out whether the foreign nationals were actually staying in the city for the purpose they mentioned while filling up the C Forms at the Foreigners Registration Office (FRO) of the city police. 

Every year hundreds of foreigners from different countries come to Pune, a prominent info-tech hub in the country, for work or education. 

According to the rules, it is mandatory for foreigners intending to stay in the city for more than 180 days to inform the FRO and fill up Form C with detailed information. “Though some of the FRO officials usually conduct surprise checks at various hotels, apartments and other places where these foreigners put up, these officials also have other work to do. We want that there should be constant focus on this issue and hence this dedicated squad has been formed,” police sources said. 

The squad would randomly choose about 25 foreigners registered with the FRO and verify all the information furnished in Forms C, including place of work and address. 

“For example, if a foreigner has claimed that his/her stay is for education purpose, the squad officers will visit the educational institution concerned to verify whether he/she is attending classes regularly or not and also scrutinise their other activities,” Ranade said.

Two foreigners held Two foreign nationals were arrested on Wednesday by the Bund Garden police for staying in India even after their visa had expired.

The two were identified as Ibrahim Faud Ibrahim of Palestine and Khalid Mohammad Osman of Sudan. 

Ibrahim and Osman’s visa had expired on June 12, 2008 and August 24, 2009 respectively. The duo was remanded in magisterial custody by judicial magistrate (first class) RL Wankhade. Later, they were granted bail on a surety of Rs2,000 each.