Visa fraud: Govt tightening vigil at intl airports

Faced with a large number of cases of forgery in visas and passports, the government is contemplating to further tighten vigil at all international airports by installing high-tech equipment and well-trained security personnel.

Faced with a large number of cases of forgery in visas and passports, the government is contemplating to further tighten vigil at all international airports by installing high-tech equipment and well-trained security personnel.

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The step follows the detection of more than 3,600 such fraud cases across India in the last three years, Home Ministry sources said.

Though several people, mostly travel agents, involved in preparing such forged or fake travel documents were arrested, the crime is yet to be curbed fully.

To check the menace, the government is now planning to install magnifying glass and ultra violent lamps at all international airports for scrutinising the features of the travel documents apart from installation of Passport Reading Machines for verifying the authenticity of the passports.

To detect sophisticated forgeries in travel documents, Questionable Documents Examiner machines are being installed at all international airports, sources said.

Besides, the Immigration Control System software, which verifies the passport details of passengers to prevent impersonation, is also being installed.

Immigration officers posted at airports are especially being trained to detect forged travel documents.