Goa police to clamp down on illegal stay of foreigners

Goa police have ordered a clamp down on foreigners, staying in the state even after expiry of their visa, a senior police officer said.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Ravindra Yadav said that both the district police chiefs and foreigners’ branch have been issued directions in this regard.

The state receives around four lakh foreigners every year and recently a Russian youth was booked for killing a local over petty brawl in Morjim village.

Police station staff and beat officers would be directed to identify the illegally staying foreigners, Yadav said.

“They (foreigners) would be detained and deported to their country,” the DIG said.

Police have also appealed to the locals to inform the nearest police station about any such foreigners staying in the state for years without valid documents.

Presence of police on the beaches would be increased till midnight to keep a check on criminals.

“We will also ask tourism department to keep lifeguards till midnight as people usually throng the beaches in the evening,” he said.

Questions were raised on the safety of beaches here after a British teenager was found dead on Anjuna shore, two years back.

There has also been an increase in sporadic crimes against foreigners here including recent alleged rape of a nine-year-old Russian girl.