Bihar Government Orders Comprehensive Inquiry Into Foreign Nationals on Missionary Visas
In a significant development in the Bihar Legislative Assembly, Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Samrat Choudhary declared on Monday that the state government will conduct a detailed and thorough investigation into the arrival of 173 foreign nationals from Pakistan, Russia, and Uzbekistan on missionary visas in Gopalganj district. The inquiry will cover the entire 25-year period from 1990 to 2015, focusing on the activities and records of these individuals.
Assembly Announcement and Question Details
Samrat Choudhary made this announcement while responding to a starred question posed by BJP MLA Mithilesh Kumar Tiwari, who represents the Baikunthpur assembly constituency in Gopalganj district. The Deputy CM emphasized that the probe would not only examine the missionary activities of these 173 foreign nationals but also investigate any other actions they might have undertaken during their stay in Bihar.
"A comprehensive probe will be conducted into the cases of 173 foreign nationals from Pakistan, Russia, and Uzbekistan who had come to Gopalganj from 1990 to 2015," Choudhary stated in the House. "The government-ordered inquiry will scrutinize the activities of these individuals who arrived on missionary visas and determine what else they were doing in the state beyond their stated missionary work."
Background of the Issue
Earlier, through his starred question, MLA Mithilesh Kumar Tiwari brought to the government's attention that 173 foreign nationals—including 167 from Karachi and Rawalpindi in Pakistan, five from Russia, and one from Uzbekistan—had arrived in Gopalganj district on missionary visas between 1990 and 2015. Tiwari highlighted that the district office lacks comprehensive records about these individuals, with the only documented reference being a letter dated November 28, 2015, from the then Superintendent of Police (SP) of Gopalganj.
In that letter, the SP pointed out the presence of 173 foreign nationals who had entered the district on missionary visas. Tiwari expressed concerns about the lack of information regarding their activities and whereabouts, stating, "They had come on missionary visas, but there is no record of what their activities were and what else other than that they were doing." He added that while there are numerous hearsay accounts about them, concrete information is absent.
Key Concerns and Proposed Actions
Tiwari further noted that the district administration does not have any information about whether these foreign nationals returned to their home countries. He suggested that the country's immigration office could be consulted to gather more details and verify their exit records. This lack of documentation has raised questions about monitoring and oversight of foreign nationals on long-term visas in the region.
The inquiry ordered by the Bihar government aims to address these gaps by:
- Investigating the specific activities of the 173 foreign nationals during their stay in Gopalganj.
- Examining whether they engaged in any actions beyond their missionary work.
- Verifying their entry and exit records through coordination with immigration authorities.
- Assessing the overall impact and implications of their presence in the district over the 25-year period.
This move underscores the government's commitment to ensuring transparency and security regarding foreign nationals in Bihar, particularly in sensitive districts like Gopalganj. The probe is expected to provide clarity and address public concerns about the activities of these individuals, while also reinforcing regulatory measures for future visa holders.
