3 Sri Lankans, Tamil Nadu woman detained near Indo-Nepal border

LUCKNOW: The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) detained four people, including three Sri Lankan nationals and a woman from Tamil Nadu, near the Rajjanwa checkpost along the India-Nepal border in Bahraich district late Wednesday night, officials said. The group was allegedly attempting to reach Nepal through a forest route when security personnel intercepted them near the international boundary.According to preliminary information shared by officials, the four had travelled by auto-rickshaw to the border area and were seen seeking directions towards Nepal. Personnel at the checkpost reportedly faced difficulty communicating with the group due to a language barrier, after which the matter was escalated to the SSB for further verification. The SSB questioned the individuals and conducted a preliminary check of their belongings and documents.During the inquiry, security personnel found passports belonging to the three Sri Lankan nationals. Officials said the visas linked to the passports had reportedly expired about three months ago, raising questions about their immigration status and how they reached the border area. The SSB subsequently handed over all four to Murtihā police station for detailed questioning and legal action.The detained Sri Lankan nationals have been identified as Ajith Kumar (39), Kaushalya (38) and Prabhap (38), residents of Jaffna, Sri Lanka. The fourth person has been identified as Dharm Sudhakar (35), a woman from Tamil Nadu. The report described her as Sudhakar’s wife.Investigators said the group was allegedly trying to cross into Nepal through a forested stretch adjoining the border near the Rajjanwa checkpost. Police are trying to ascertain why the group travelled to the region, whether the movement was pre-planned, and what destination they intended to reach in Nepal. Their relationship with one another and the circumstances of their travel are also being verified.Circle officer Amit Kumar said questioning had been challenging due to the language barrier and that an interpreter was being arranged to record their statements. Additional superintendent of police (rural) Durga Prasad Tiwari said the four were being questioned and the next course of action would be decided after document verification and further inquiry.