Over 10,000 foreigners arrested in 2013

New Delhi, July 9: Over 10,000 foreigners were arrested by Indian security agencies last year for violating provisions of the Foreigners Act and immigration control rules, the government told Parliament today.

Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju told Rajya Sabha in a written reply that while 10,043 foreigners were arrested in 2013, the corresponding figures for the years 2012 and 2011 stood at 7,484 and 7,345 respectively.

"With implementation of various modules under Immigration, Visa and Foreigners Registration and Tracking (IVFRT) project, law enforcing agencies are in a better position to know about the foreigners violating visa condition/various rules and regulations while in India and agencies are arresting and deporting such foreigners.

"Besides use of hi-tech devices at immigration check posts (ICPs) and emphasis on training of immigration staff and other law enforcing agencies are also contributing in detection of forgeries caused by foreigners in their travel documents, leading to arrest of foreigners in large number in comparison to previous years," Rijiju said.

PTI