Question : HANDING OVER OF ILLEGAL MIGRANTS

(a) whether Pakistan and Bangladesh are refusing to take back the people who sneak into J&K and other border areas with the help of the authorities in their countries in the event of their arrest as reported in the `Rashtriya Sahara`` dated 24.2.2003;

(b) if so, the facts in this regard;

(c) whether Pakistan is also not willing to take back the Pakistani nationals who have completed their term in the Indian jails;

(d) if so, the policy followed by the Government in this regard;

(e) the agency which bears their expenditure till such cases are settled; and

(f) the remedial steps taken/being taken by the Government to address the situation ?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (SHRI HARIN PATHAK )

(a) to (f): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 561 BY SHRI SATYAVRAT CHATURVEDI AND SHRI SUNDER LAL TIWARI REGARDING HANDING OVER OF ILLEGAL MIGRANTS FOR REPLY ON 29.4.03.

(a), (b), (c) and (d): The report referred to in `Rashtriya Sahara` of 24.2.2003 talks of the alleged refusal of Pakistan to take back its citizens on completion of their jail sentences for having illegally entered into India. Repatriation of Pakistani prisoners is an ongoing process. Consular access is provided periodically to the Pakistani prisoners in terms of the Protocol of Consular Access of 1982 to facilitate this process. After they are identified, temporary travel documents have to be provided by the Pakistani authorities, whereafter the prisoners are repatriated. A large number of Bangladeshi nationals who have illegally entered into the country are staying in various parts unauthorisedly. Such illegally staying Bangladeshi nationals, whenever detected, are deported back. However, Government of Bangladesh maintain that there are no illegally staying Bangladeshi nationals in India.

(e): The expenditure on repatriation and immigration related activities is reimbursed to the State Governments by the Government of India.

(f): In order to expedite the verification of identity of the prisoners, the matter is taken up at the diplomatic level to speed this up.