In Goa-Foreign students under scanner

Foreign students under scanner
Preetu Nair | TNN

Panaji: The Goa police have decided to conduct a fresh survey of foreigners studying in the state to verify their antecedents and have sought the state government’s permission to be allowed to conduct surprise raids on institutions where foreign students are enrolled.
The police—who are alarmed by the increasing number of natives from West Asia studying in private institutes in the state—said investigations have revealed that foreigners with student visas to study in institutes in other states have enrolled in private institutes in Goa and do not attend classes regularly. In one case, it was found that at times students disappear for months together from the state on sick leave. The police said licences of the institutes should be cancelled in case of any violations and the students bunking classes should be deported.
The police proposal to the state government also said a weekly attendance sheet of the students should be sent to the Foreigners Registration Office (FRO). The proposal comes on the heels of the alleged revelations by Amir Kasab Azam, arrested during the Mumbai terror attack, that he and eight others had made a reconnaissance trip to Mumbai, posing as Malaysian students.
The police suggested bringing such private institutions under the control of the education department and the forwarding of details of all foreign students to the collector and the FRO. “From the security point of view it is important to have a check on people who arrive on the pretext of studying. It is a grey area and if immediate steps are not taken, it may prove detrimental to national security,” said SP (North) Bosco George. 11 institutes not affiliated to any varsity
Panaji: The Goa police in a proposal to the state government has suggested bringing private education institutions in the state under the control of the education department.
The Goa police are also conducting a survey to verify the credentials of foreigners studying in the state.
Police investigations have revealed 11 institutes not recognized or affiliated to any university. Six of them function from Panaji. The institutes mainly cater to foreign students, with about 150 students from West Asia attending courses in English, business administration, computer science and office management. Yemenese nationals top the list, followed by students from Sudan, Afghanistan and Nigeria.
Most of the institutes have trade licenses from the respective municipal council or corporation.
SP (Intelligence) A V Deshpande said, “After conducting a survey of private institutions enrolling foreign students, we learnt that foreign students were using loopholes in the system to be in Goa. Things need to be in place to ensure that subversive elements dont enter the state posing as students.”

December 4, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition