State govt appoints IAS officer for safe return of residents from Afghanistan

The government also released helpline numbers for people to contact if they require assistance. According to the government order, people can send in their information at 080-22094498, 080-22942628, 9480800187 or afghan_kar@ksp.gov.in.

The Karnataka government on Wednesday appointed a senior IPS official as nodal officer to coordinate with the Centre to bring back residents of the state from Afghanistan.

Afghan students protest outside Bangalore University against the Taliban on Tuesday. (HT Photo)

“As there is a conflict situation in Afghanistan, to bring back Indians stranded there, the central government has already started a helpline. To coordinate with the central government and bring back Kannadigas safely from there, Umesh Kumar, IPS, additional director general of police CID, Bengaluru, has been appointed as nodal officer,” an official notification said on Wednesday.

The government also released helpline numbers for people to contact if they require assistance. According to the government order, people can send in their information at 080-22094498, 080-22942628, 9480800187 or afghan_kar@ksp.gov.in.

India on Tuesday had brought back home the Indian ambassador and its staff at the embassy in Kabul in a military transport aircraft in view of the deteriorating security situation in the Afghan capital, two days after its takeover by the Taliban.

Earlier on Wednesday, state home minister Araga Jnanendra said there are 339 Afghans in Karnataka. Out of them 192 are students, and the Basavaraj Bommai administration will talk to the Centre on renewing their visas and will provide them protection.

Talking to media, Jnanendra said that the government is extending all necessary assistance to the Afghan students studying in the state and to take steps to address their grievances following the political developments in their country.

He noted that there are about 300 Afghan nationals, including students presently residing in the state. “The state government will interact with the Union government relating to any issues on extending visa of the Afghan students residing in Karnataka”, the minister said.