267 Indian illegal workers held in Sharjah

In a major crackdown, the Indian nationals have been arrested in Sharjah for allegedly violating residency and labour laws and are likely to be deported. It was one of the major raids on illegal expats in the UAE.

In a major crackdown, over 260 Indian nationals have been arrested in Sharjah for allegedly violating residency and labour laws and are likely to be deported.

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Sharjah Department of Naturalisation and Residency and Sharjah Police arrested the 267 Indians, 67 of who had no IDs or documents, on Tuesday. It was one of the major raids on illegal expats in the UAE since the official amnesty ended last year during which nearly 300,000 people had regularised their status.

"Some had residence visas but which had expired several years ago and they had not renewed it. Some of the arrested were working with people other than their sponsors.

They were all referred to the Sharjah Public Prosecution on Wednesday," department official Major Al Shamsi said.

Shamsi said all the workers would be deported.

But local authorities have not informed the Indian consulate about those detained, officials said, adding they may approach the consulate for processing documents when they are deported.

Indian consul-general Venu Rajamony told PTI today that consulate had asked all Indians in the UAE not to violate local immigration rules and had helped a majority of those staying illegally to leave the country during the last amnesty.

"The government is dealing strictly with all those people who are staying illegally in the country. They will be arrested and will be subsequently deported to their native countries," Shamsi added.