No trace of foreigners who escaped police custody

 A week after 17 foreign nationals escaped from the custody of police in Gautam Budh Nagar district in Uttar Pradesh, there is no trace of them.

The police are seeking the help of African associations to track them down.

The police held them on July 11 during a drive called "Operation Clean 10" to round up those living in India even after the expiry of their visa. 

The drive led to the detention of 60 foreign nationals from nine countries, mostly from Africa, who were living either on allegedly forged or invalid documents.

The operation also led to police seizing 222 beer bottles marked for sale in Delhi, 3.5 kg of cannabis, six laptops and 114 SIM cards from the residents of the foreigners in various parts of Gautam Budh Nagar district.

Seventeen of those rounded up, however, escaped from the police custody.

"We are trying to locate them but haven't been able to trace anyone. We are in touch with members of the African Association. As per law, we can restrict the movement of foreigners if they have invalid or forged documents," said Superintendent of Police Kumar Ranvijay Singh.

In such cases, the foreigners are provided accommodation by the police till the time official proceedings to send them back get over. By escaping, they have violated the detention orders.

"They can't leave the country while raids are being carried out in the National Capital Region," Singh said, adding that they could have taken shelter in the houses of relatives or friends. IANS