After the Dolkun Isa episode, the government may ask all applicants for e-tourist visa on arrival to produce information on any criminal case pending against them, sources told HT.
“We are likely to seek information from applicants if there is any criminal case pending against them in their country. Later, if any applicant is found to be hiding information in this regard, their visa can be cancelled or they can be barred from coming back here again,” said a senior home ministry official, requesting anonymity.
The official added that the government might ask applicants about their association with advocacy groups as well.
“Deliberations on all these changes are on. We h ave already decided to link the Interpol notice database with the e-tourist visa regime for avoid a repeat of Isa episode. If Dolkun had arrived in India, we would have had no option but to arrest him. It would have created more troubles for India,” said the official.
Uyghur democracy activist Dolkun Isa had applied for e-tourist visa on arrival and his application was also approved but later, his visa was cancelled due to violation of norms. Isa was supposed to participate in a conference in Dharamsala.
U yghurs are an ethnic minority and mainly natives of restive Xinjiang province in northern China. Their separatist movement has taken a violent turn with jehadi overtones, worrying the Chinese authorities.
An Inter pol Red Corner notice, issued in 1998 on the request of China, was also pending against Isa.
{{/usCountry}}An Inter pol Red Corner notice, issued in 1998 on the request of China, was also pending against Isa.
{{/usCountry}}E- tourist visa is applied online and once approved, the applicants can come to India with the copy of approval sent by Indian authorities.