The police should identify illegal immigrants and foreign nationals who are staying unlawfully and deport them. Whatever the number, those staying illegally must be identified and appropriate action taken. Inspections should be carried out rigorously across the entire state.
The Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939, requires foreigners with visas exceeding six months to register with the FRRO within 14 days of arrival in India, except for exempted categories. People who rent out rooms should also carry out police verification responsibly.
In the past, illegal Bangladeshi immigrants were involved in dacoities in Dona Paula and Mapusa. Several Bangladeshi nationals who have infiltrated India pose security concerns. These illegal migrants, willing to work for lower wages, displace local labourers and strain public resources, as some fraudulently access government subsidies and services meant for Indian citizens.
Unless illegal immigration is treated as a major national issue, such incidents may continue. The police, within their jurisdictions, should conduct door-to-door surveys of migrants and other foreign nationals residing in localities. Following past arrests of Bangladeshi nationals from Pernem and Arambol, it is suspected that a few more may be residing in Goa while concealing their original identities.
