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260 Indian nationals face deportation

DUBAI: At least 260 Indian nationals are facing deportation after they were arrested by Sharjah police for allegedly violating labour and residency laws.

The Sharjah Department of Naturalization and Residency and Sharjah Police detained 267 Indians, after conducting a raid on Tuesday in areas where the police suspected illegal workers were residing. Around 67 did not have any identification documents. Diplomatic sources said this was one of the biggest raids carried out after the three-month official amnesty period granted by the government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had expired in November.

The sources said the Indian consulate had so far not been officially informed about the incident.

However, any issue of deportation would have to involve Indian missions in the UAE so that documentation that would enable travel can be issued.

Consulate officials said it was expected of Indian nationals in the emirate that they do no violate the local immigration laws.

The consulate had helped a majority of illegal workers to leave the country during the last amnesty period. However, several illegal workers, including Indians, had not taken advantage of the amnesty.

“All the workers will be deported. The government is dealing strictly with all those people who are staying illegally in the country. They will be arrested and will be subsequently deported to their native countries,” said Major Al Shamsi, official with the Sharjah Public Prosecution department.

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