by reciprocal arrangement with Star of Mysore

Mysore, Oct 31: Following the arrest of two terrorists in the city recently, a blanket of suspicion has fallen on hundreds of foreign nationals, who are studying in various city colleges. Though the police are saying they have no evidence of any foreign student involved in illegal activities, a strict vigil is being kept on their movements.

There are about 900 foreign students residing in the city, and 500 among them are from Iran. 'But all these students pose no threat and no suspicion is on them', DCP K T Balakrishna said.

Disclosing that 14 Afghan students have come here for studies recently, police commissioner Praveen Sood said no Pakistani student is studying in any of the colleges in city.

'There are about 10 women residing in the city who have married Pakistani citizens and though they visit their spouses often and return to city here, we have no suspicion about them', Sood maintained.

'There are thousands of foreigners visiting the city annually on tourist visas and if they possess a visa valid for 180 days, they need not register their names with the Police. It is only Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals, who have to register their names within 24 hours of arrival', Sood said and added that the Police have no information on any such visitors staying in city illegally.

Most of the students say they have provided whatever informations the Police had sought and they are living peacefully. They also agree that there will be suspicion in the minds of general public whenever a foreign national is caught involved in illegal activities.