51 Nigerians Wanted In India
Two years after 200 African nationals, largely Nigerians, ran riot at Porvorim, bringing the NH 17 to a grinding halt for over four hours and destroying police and public property, Goa police has failed to make any progress in the case as the 51 Nigerians arrested in the case remain untraceable.
Police also said that not a single Nigerian involved in the case has been deported from the country.
Speaking to TOI, North Goa superintendent of police Umesh Gaonkar said that investigation has come to a standstill as police are not been able to ascertain the identity of the accused to file the chargesheet.
“We have evidence, video footage and other evidence in the case, but, we don’t have the documentary proof of the accused to file the chargesheet,” he added.
He also said that Porvorim police will circulate the photo of the accused to all police stations to find out the whereabouts of the accused so it helps to complete the investigation.
During the time of arrest, out of 51 Nigerians, 30 Nigerian had travel documents.
“When the travel documents were sent to the Nigerian embassy for verification of documents, the embassy failed to cooperate,” a senior police officer said.
Following the Porvorim riot on October 31, 2013, police had registered two separate cases—rioting and attempting to commit murder of police—against 51 Nigerians.
All 51 are presently out on bail. The Nigerians had run riot following the murder of countryman Obodo Uzoma Simeon at Parra in an alleged fight between two drug mafias over territory.
Since 2010, over 65 cases have been registered against Nigerians for their alleged involvement in the drug trade in the state.
Then chief minister and current Union defence minister Manohar Parrikar had said that the police will round up foreigners without proper documents and deport those found staying illegally and involved in illegal activities.
But, FRRO officials told TOI it is becoming very difficult to keep track and deport the Nigerians as they are constantly shifting base in the state.
Explaining the deportation procedure, the officials said, “Once a foreign national is found without valid documents, he/she is arrested, produced before the court and simultaneously the FRRO writes to the embassy concerned to issue a temporary valid travel document which has a validity of between 15 and 20 days or a month.
The court, meanwhile, issues a deportation order which is served on the foreign national. Based on the travel document issued by the embassy, FRRO deports the foreigner”.
Source: ELITES
