New Delhi: As part of a nationwide drive to deport Pakistani nationals whose visas expired on April 29, the Home Ministry of India has expanded exemptions to include Pakistani Hindus whose applications for Long Term Visas (LTVs) are still being processed. Those eligible but yet to apply must do so immediately to avoid deportation, The Hindu reported.
In Rajasthan, where many Pakistani Hindu migrants live, the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) clarified that Hindu and some Muslim women married to Indian citizens with pending LTVs won’t be forced to leave. A recent registration drive there led to 362 migrants being granted LTVs.
While hundreds of Pakistanis have already exited via the Attari border, advocacy groups raised alarm over the fate of around 10,000 Pakistani Hindus with LTV applications pending for over two years, the report said. The government’s move, announced after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, caused widespread panic.
The Hindu quoting officials reported that only those without LTVs or pending applications will face deportation. Police have been instructed to verify documents, and violators will be sent to detention centres before deportation. Migrants have been advised to avoid touts and contact the FRRO directly.
