Nagpur cops bring around 2,600 foreigners under scanner

NAGPUR: The arrest of an Afghan national, Noor Mohd Aziz Mohd, on Wednesday was part of a police exercise to verify visas and other documents of more than 2,600 foreign nationals in the city. Noor, who was staying illegally in Nagpur since 2010, would be deported soon.
Apart from Noor, cops also unearthed details of yet another illegal resident Afghan, Mateen Sarwar Khan, who has even purchased some property in the city on the basis of an Aadhaar card, which cannot be issued to foreign citizens.
An investigation by special branch under DCP Basavraj Teli revealed Khan had come to the city in 2016 during his journey to a dargah at Washim. The following year, Khan was nabbed by Nandanvan police for visa violations but soon got bail.
It’s learnt Khan and his family had registered themselves in Assam when they first came to India. City police are also trying to zero down upon Khan to deport him too. “We will try to get the property purchased by Khan seized by the concerned department and confiscated by the government. Police would either try to expedite the trial in Khan’s case or get it withdrawn, as we are keen to deport him,” said CP.
Kumar also said the documents of more than 2,600 foreign nationals, including Pakistan-based Hindus, would be verified to ascertain whether they were staying legally in the city. “Since around a week, city police had started checking and verifying documents of foreign nationals currently staying in the city. This exercise led us to Noor, whose deportation process has been initiated,” he said.
“We have found a registration card and driving license from Noor but their authenticity is under question,” said CP. “Though his social media posts have pro-Taliban inclination, there was no record or information of Noor indulging in any dubious activities in the city,” said Kumar.
He added Noor was involved in helping Khan in his financial dealings. It’s learnt Noor had arrived at Delhi airport in 2010 and reached the city, but no official record of his arrival and stay in city was found.
The CP also added some of the Pakistani Hindus are staying with extended long term visas, and their documents would be scrutinized too. “Police would also verify details and documents of the other 269 foreign nationals too, including 96 Afghans,” he said.
Sources there are five Bangladeshi nationals staying in city apart from natives of different other countries, including 12 Muslim women from Pakistan. It’s learnt cops are also set to launch a drive against illegally residing Bangladeshis in the city, whose numbers could be substantial.