Bhubaneswar: Acting upon the suggestion by the foreigners division of the Ministry of External Affairs, the Odisha government today issued "Leave India" notices to 10 Chinese nationals working in the ports sector in Bhadrak district of the state, a government official said.
"The state government has asked the Director of Intelligence and the Superintendent of Police, Bhadrak district to execute Leave India notices on the Chinese nationals," Home Secretary Asit Tripathy told reporters.
Since sensitive defense establishments were located in the district, the foreigners division of the MHA suggested removal of Chinese nationals from the site.
"We are taking required steps as per the law to ensure their departure from the state and also the country," Tripathy said.
Though the Chinese nationals were holding business visas, they worked as employees of the Thai company, official sources said.
“Initially, 19 Chinese nationals came to Bhadrak and worked under the Thai company on DPCL's expansion project. Meanwhile, nine of them have already left the state.”
“Therefore, we are serving notices to 10 Chinese nationals," said Bhadrak SP Nihar Ranjan.
They were mostly working on soil testing for the expansion project of the Port and staying outside the campus. They were staying in a rented house in Bhadrak district, a port insider said.
The government action in this regard came as the foreigners were found engaged in work at a place close to the missile-launch facility at APJ Abdul Kalam Island, earlier known as Wheeler's Island.
