Panaji, Dec 6 (IANS)

Six foreign guides were fined and reprimanded by police department Thursday for operating illegally in Goa.

The fines followed a formal complaint by the state tourism department to the Goa Police department, after the guides, five of whom are Russian and one from Ukraine, were found illegally operating in Goa on a tourist visa.

According to Superintendent of Police of the Foreigners Regional Registration Office Tony Fernandes, each of the guides were fined Rs.10,000 and officially reprimanded for conducting business on a tourist visa.

"We have warned each of them not to conduct business here while possessing a tourist visa. It is not allowed. They will be deported soon," Fernandes said.

The accused were identified as Eurkhina Valentine, Pavel Cotapob, Polikarpova Ekaterina, Dimity Kudalev, Romahiva Luvi all from Russia and Ihuk Julia from Ukraine.

The action follows complaints by official guides registered with the state tourism department, who have alleged that Russian nationals posing illegally as guides were depriving them of their guiding assignments.

Goa, a popular beach tourism destination, annually receives nearly 1 lakh Russian tourists.