Indian police in Gorakhpur have arrested a French citizen after the latter was suspected of violating visa rules and participating in a protest. According to local media, the Frenchman named Heinold Valentine Jean-Roger had initially entered India on a business visa.
Roger reportedly participated in a protest organized by the Ambedkar Janmorcha at the Commissioner’s office, VisaGuide.World reports.
The protesters were in the process of setting up tents for an extended demonstration when a police team arrived at the scene, where they discovered Roger among them.
The arrested had obtained a business visa on August 10 this year, valid until August 1, 2024, specifically for a business visit to Dhanbad. Contrary to the intended purpose of the visa, he decided to travel to Gorakhpur and join the protests.
The police also emphasized that, in addition to the French citizen Roger, six activists were also arrested. The same stated that these activists had gathered in the Commissioner’s office, even though Article 144 of the Criminal Code was in force, and were involved in acts of vandalism and threats against the officials who were present at the location.
The six activists arrested include a 79-year-old retired IPS officer, SR Darapuri. The remaining five belong to the age of 50, 32, 41, 38, and 50 years old respectively.
After he retired from IPS SR Darapuri in 2003, he has been actively involved in various human rights and social issues. Thus, he was arrested in December 2019 during anti-CAA protests in Lucknow but later released on bail.
Recently, the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has also arrested three Bangladeshi nationals. Among them, Nazibul Sheikh (35) and Abu Hurayayra (30) were nabbed for their involvement in helping irregular migrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar enter India.
The same authority has stated that the two individuals, Nazibul Sheikh and Abu Hurayayra, were involved in preparing Indian passports for migrants using forged and forged documents.
Moreover, ATS investigators have reported finding several fraudulent items in the possession of these individuals, including passports created using fake Indian documents, PAN cards, Aadhaar cards, and foreign SIM cards.
Based on the VisaGuide Passport Index, as of October 2023, Indian passport holders can enjoy visa-free travel to 29 countries and territories. However, for entry into other nations, they are required to apply for a visa in advance.