African Woman Arrest:
Madhya Pradesh Police suspect the passport and student visa of the African woman arrested in Indore to be fake. Police believe the documents on which she based her stay in India might be forged. A senior police officer provided this information on Friday. Since her arrest, the police have been intensively investigating her entire background and travel details.
The woman was apprehended on November 18th during a raid by the state police's narcotics wing in Indore's Residency area. The documents identified her as Linda, a 25-year-old woman. Police revealed she had cocaine in a bag when she was arrested.
During questioning, the woman disclosed that she traveled from Mumbai to Indore by bus. The investigation uncovered approximately 31 grams of cocaine in her possession, which she intended to supply within the city. A passport from Côte d'Ivoire (formerly Ivory Coast) was found with her.
In her statement to the police, she claimed her arrival in India was on a student visa and she was residing in the suburb of Nalasopara, Mumbai. However, discrepancies in her claims have made the police skeptical.
The Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the narcotics wing, Maheshchand Jain, informed PTI that clues from the investigation suggest her passport and student visa could be counterfeit. He stated that the documents are under meticulous scrutiny and are being verified through the Foreigners Registration Office (FRO).
Jain further noted that if any discrepancies are found in the documents, severe action would be taken under the Passport Act and laws concerning foreign nationals. An FIR under the NDPS Act has already been filed for the cocaine seized from her.
According to the police, the woman has not been cooperative during the interrogation. The birthdate provided by her didn't match the date on her passport, which has strengthened the police's suspicions.
For foreign students in India, registration at the Foreigners Registration Office (FRO) or the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) is mandatory. However, there are several unclear points in her case that are being rapidly investigated.
The woman is currently in judicial custody, while the police conduct a full investigation into her activities in India, her potential network, and her travel history. The truth about her documents will only come to light after the investigation is complete.
