Question : FOREIGNERS IN ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES

(a) whether a large number of foreigners have been reported to be involved in various crimes and illegal activities in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the number of foreigners arrested, convicted and awarded life imprisonment and capital punishment in the country during each of the last three years and the current year, nationality-wise;

(c) whether the Government has any mechanism to tackle criminal activities of foreigners in the country; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN)

(a) & (b): Instances of violation of law and involvement in illegal activities by foreign nationals in various parts of the country have been reported. Registration of cases and action thereon comes within the purview of police stations and State Governments/ Union Territory Administration concerned. Details of foreigners arrested during the years 2007 to 2009 under various provisions of the Foreigners’ Act are given in the Annexure. Details for the year 2010 have not been compiled. Statistical data of number of foreigners convicted and awarded life imprisonment and capital punishment in the country and nationality-wise is not centrally maintained.

(c) & (d): Police and maintenance of law and order being State responsibility primarily, the detection of missing foreign nationals including those involvement in criminal activities is a continuing priority for all States/Union Territory Administrations, as also the Central Government. In those cases where the foreigner is also arrested and action taken under the relevant Acts, the foreigner is deported/repatriated only after completion of his sentence. The foreigner is deported under section 3(2)(c) of the Foreigners Act, 1946.