Creating a record of sorts, the NRI wing of the Punjab Police has so far deposed of 85.61 per cent of the total 7,992 complaints received within stipulated time in 2014, that too despite receiving double the number of complaints during the same period.
Besides, the arrest of 75 proclaimed offenders (POs) and issuance of look Out Circulars (lOCs) for 94 accused NRIs is expected to become a big deterrent for any offence or crime against the NRIs.
“Till date, the NRI wing has received 7,992 complaints, which were more than double — 109 per cent — than the previous year’s figure of 3852 complaints,” said the Punjab Police NRI wing’s Inspector General of Police Gurpreet Deo.
She said that a steep increase in the complaint was due to “intensive campaign launched by the NRI Police wing to come forward to lodge a complaint through website, email or personally generating a confidence amongst NRI regarding the sincerity of Punjab Police to tackle their complaints on priority basis”.
Among the countries, maximum 1123 complaints have been received from Canada, followed by 763 in UK, 744 in USA, 282 in Australia and 219 in Italy.
Out of these, 2245 complaints were received through e-mails.
“While disposing of 6842 (85.61 per cent) complaints, 235 cases have been registered under different sections of the various acts. lOCs have been issued against 94 accused to get them arrested immediately after landing on any Indian airport,” she said.
In addition, 75 POs have been arrested in different cases registered on the complaints of NRIs and 101 accused have been declared as new POs.
“The photographs of NRI POs have also been uploaded on NRI Wing website — www.nripunjabpolice.com,” she added.
Giving break up of complaints, Deo said that 2455 complaints were related to property disputes.
“After thorough investigation, 64 cases were registered and compromises were stroked in 422 cases resulting in benefit to the tune of Rs100 crore to the aggrieved parties,” she said.
NRI wing had also received 664 complaints regarding matrimonial issue and after investigation, 73 cases were registered. Out of these, 41 cases were relating to those NRI bridegrooms who had deserted their Indian wives and in 15 cases, Indian bridegrooms used their marriages with NRI girls just to secure visas and eloped immediately after reaching their destinations.
“A total of 2604 complaints were regarding the issues of financial or property dealings with their own family members, travel agents and property dealers. Thirty cases were registered in these cases after thorough investigations,” she said.
Deo pointed out that Alternate Dispute Redressal Mechanism was also being used in which community was roped in redressing NRIs’ complaints.
Till date compromises or decisions were reached in 84 cases thorough this mechanism.
Explaining about the functioning of NRI Wing, the IGP/NRI said that any NRI can submit his or her complaint at NRI Wing, Mohali, any NRI Police Station personally or through e-mail at nri.pbpolice@gmail.com, or by logging on to the NRI Wing website — www.nripunjabpolice.com or through post.