Strange as it may seem, the Indian government does not have data on the number of foreign nationals from neighbouring countries who are overstaying in the country after their visas have expired.

In reply to an application under the Right to Information Act (RTI) seeking details about foreign nationals who have not returned to their countries after expiry of their visas, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that “data of such illegal immigrants/students from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Maldives who have not returned to their countries after expiration of their visas between 2020-24 is not centrally available.”

Furthermore, the ministry, in its typical style of passing the buck, pointed out that the power to detect, restrict movement, and deport illegal immigrants has been delegated under existing laws to state governments and union territories.

“Hence, you may seek information directly from state governments/union territories,” the reply added.

The RTI application was sent by this correspondent in the backdrop of widespread rumors that many foreign nationals, especially from Bangladesh, have not returned to their countries after the expiry of their visas. On August 27, a special flight from Pune ferried 27 Bangladeshi nationals, who were found overstaying in the country, to West Bengal. They were deported to Bangladesh through the border.

Earlier,........

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