Bihar to Investigate ‘Criminal Activities’ of Foreign Tourists, Announces Deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary

Patna: The Bihar government has decided to investigate the potential criminal involvement of foreign tourists visiting the state. Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Samrat Chaudhary made this announcement in response to a question raised by BJP MLA Mithilesh Tiwari during the ongoing budget session of the Bihar Assembly.

During the session on Monday, BJP MLA Mithilesh Tiwari highlighted instances where foreign visitors on religious tours appeared to suddenly amass wealth. In his question, he asked how foreign tourists are identified and verified during their visits.

Concerns Raised by BJP MLA
MLA Tiwari asked whether photographs are taken when tourists arrive and depart, expressing concerns that some visitors, under the guise of religious tourism, were acquiring luxurious properties, registering land in their names, and even enrolling themselves on voter lists within a short period.

Historical Data on Foreign Visitors
Responding to the question, Deputy CM Chaudhary shared that between 1990 and 2015, a total of 173 foreign nationals visited Gopalganj for religious purposes. Out of these, 168 were from Pakistan, while a few others came from the UK and Uzbekistan. He acknowledged that the concerns raised by the MLA are valid and assured that the government shares these apprehensions.

Government Action
Deputy CM Chaudhary stated that the government will investigate whether tourists on foreign visas are involved in any criminal activities and whether they are using these visits to engage in illegal or unauthorized work. He added that the relevant departments are vigilant and committed to ensuring that no foreign national undertakes any unlawful activity while in India.