The Hyderabad police on Tuesday conducted a verification drive to identify foreigners who were illegally staying in the city. Officials of the police, Task Force and Foreigner Regional Registration Office (FRRO) conducted surprise checks in the limits of Banjara Hills, Golconda, Asif Nagar and Humayun Nagar Police Station.
A seperate set of seraches were also conducted in the limits of Osmania University, Amberpet, Saifabad, Chikkadapally and Chandrayangutta police. They found a total of 23 foreigners without valid documents like Visa and passport, out of which, some overstayed their visit.
"All were brought to holding point situated at Priya function hall, Mallepally, and with the assistance of FRRO, their documents were verified. In the above operation, total 21-teams of Hyderabad City Police including Task Force, Special Branch have participated," a press note stated.
Officials said that those foreigners who were staying on in the city even after the expiry of their visas, would soon be deported. Around 17 of the 23 foreigners identified are expected to be sent back to their native countries.
The authorities also insisted that it was part of a regular drive and not a crackdown.
“Hyderabad is a metropolitan city. The city always welcomes people from other countries for business, tourism, studies. They are all welcome here, but as per rules and procedure,” Hyderabad police commissioner Anjani Kumar told reporters.
"Those who overstayed their visas can regularise it by paying a compounding fee. They can also pay the penalty and leave by taking an exit visa. Otherwise, as per the Passport Act, they will be detained and deported," he added.
The previous such search was conducted in 2017, when about 50 teams comprising officials from the police, intelligence and immigration department conducted searches in Banjara Hills, Jubliee Hills, Mehdipatnam, Asif Nagar, Toli Chowki, Bundlaguda, Alwal, LB Nagar, Neredmet and other areas.
The searches had followed the arrests of some foreigners during the investigation in a drug racket.