Institutions to face heat over overstaying foreign students

 The state government is contemplating action against educational institutions that fail to notify the  police about overstaying foreign students. Home Minister G Parameshwara gave an ominous warning here on Monday.

“Foreign students mention the expiry date of their visas in admission applications. Colleges certainly know about students whose visas have expired. We will hold both the government and private colleges responsible and decide on what action to take,” Parameshwara told mediapersons at a two-day workshop on ‘Gender Sensitive Best Practice, Implementation and Capacity Building of Police Officials’ at the Bengaluru police commissioner’s office.

“The government doesn’t have the exact number of foreigners overstaying in Karnataka, but there are some figures which are being cross-checked. We have launched a combing operation against overstaying foreigners. We have notified foreign embassies and consulates, besides the Ministry of Home Affairs. We will make it clear that foreigners are not welcome unless they renew their visa or the Government of India permits them to stay,” he said.

Asked about the lack of coordination between the local police and the Foreigners Regional Registration Office on monitoring foreign nationals, he said, “The government is in touch with the MHA. We need to discuss the matter. The situation changed after the attack on a Tanzanian woman in Bengaluru a year ago.”

The minister’s tough talk follows the murder of a Ugandan woman in the city last week. In his previous reaction, Parameshwara had blamed foreigners and said they were “creating trouble”.

The minister also announced a probe by the Criminal Investigation Department into the arson attack on the Lakshmeshwar police station in Gadag district on Sunday.

“Police have information about the miscreants and rounded up 25 people. But we are not sure if the incident was politically motivated,” he said.

Parameshwara also promised to seek funds from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on opening more women-only stations in the city.