Respect local laws: police urge foreign students

City police invited several foreign students to the commissioner’s office on Tuesday to create awareness and urge them to follow all the prevailing laws of the land.

Alok Kumar, Additional commissioner of Police (crime) said: “You have all the rights to enjoy your life but make sure the neighbourhood is not disturbed.”

“Do not do anything since there’s going to be Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations from tomorrow. Every city, state, country and person has their own culture and tradition. We respect your tradition and you need to respect ours.”

“There should be that mutual cooperation. Only then there can be coexistence. Otherwise, it would be difficult. In public domain, if there is going to be nuisance and violation of law, then we have to initiate action against those who are involved in it,” he added.

Kumar urged foreign students to report to the jurisdictional police within a week after they move to new address, since house owners are not reporting it.

Following the arrest of a hundred African students overstaying their visas, city police asked property owners to report the whereabouts of the foreign nationals to the jurisdictional police. Despite arresting a couple of house owners, the response has been poor.

The circular from commissioner T Suneel Kumar stated that house owners should take copies of the passports and visas of the foreign nationals they shelter and report to the police, besides keeping a watch.

Speaking to DH, Kumar said response from house owners to report the foreign nationals renting their places has been poor. So the police have asked the foreign students to report when they change residence. The commissioner said what happened on Tuesday was just a grievance meeting.