Bengaluru police floats inventive plan to deport 'rogue' foreign students

Bengaluru City Police have floated a significant proposal to tackle 'rogue' foreign students. The police will withdraw cases against those with a punishment of fewer than 5 years. Without cases, the police can officially deport such students, who are otherwise required by law to be in the country 

According to the law, if a case is pending against a foreigner then they cannot be deported. Using this loophole, many anti-social elements willingly get caught during minor crimes, so that a small case will be filed against them. Now, a significant proposal has been put up to the State Government by the City Police. Cases booked for offences that attract punishment of 5 years and less will be withdrawn and the culprit deported.

The State Government is yet to take a decision in this regard, which aims at controlling rogue students from foreign countries. Speaking to Kannada Prabha, Police Commissioner Praveen Sood said this does not apply to drug peddlers and other serious crime, but only to petty crimes that attract a punishment of 5 years and less. The cases against such criminals will be withdrawn and they will be deported, he said.

The issue of foreign students, mostly of African origin, causing law and order problems in the city has been a long-standing source of friction. Locals allege that the African-origin students travel to the city for their education, but many of them soon turn to a life of petty crime - especially drug peddling. Occasionally, such complaints have grown into the form of public protests as well. While the police acknowledge the issue, there seems to be little they can do to address it so far. 

Issuing deportation orders is under the Central Government’s jurisdiction. Even if the State Government recommends the Centre has to agree to the proposal, reported Kannada Prabha.