Hyderabad: Strict vigil on Pakistan nationals

Hyderabad: Keeping in view the untoward incidents that have taken place in the city, the Hyderabad police is keeping a continuous vigil on foreign nationals living in the city, especially those from Pakistan and Bangladesh on a long term visa (LTV).

Verification of the whereabouts of these foreign nationals is done every month to ensure that they are residing in the places where they have to be. Though they are vigilant, the police say they do not interfere with the routine activities of the foreign residents.

Many people from Pakistan and Bangladesh are living in the city on an LTV after getting married to Indian nationals. They are permitted to visit their home nation only once a year for a period of 90 days.

For such travel, they have to obtain a No Obligation to Return to India (NORI) Certificate from the city police. Only under emergency circumstances is second time travel permitted.

Sometimes, foreign nationals do encoun-ter problems. In one such instance, Same-ena (name changed), a Pakistani national living in the city and married to an Indian national, had visited Pakistan just before the Pulwama attack. She was not permitted to return as tensions escalated.  

Sameena and her two children, who are Indian nationals, were visiting her parents in Pakistan. “She went to Pakistan after obtaining a NORI certificate. While returning, she was stopped by the Pakistan government, as it was only a few days after the Pulwama attack. She struggled a lot to reach the city and was allowed to fly back 45 days later and rejoin her husband,” said a police official.

He said things could have been much worse for Sameena. “If persons holding LTV do not return in 90 days, their visa would be considered expired and they would have to apply for a fresh LTV,” said the official.