A high-level security probe has been triggered following the arrest of a 32-year-old Uzbek national at the strategically sensitive Badni (Barhni) border in Uttar Pradesh's Siddharthnagar district. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, has put multiple intelligence and security agencies on high alert as they scramble to trace the woman's activities during her nearly four-month period of illegal stay in the country.
Details of the Arrest and Visa Violation
The arrested individual has been identified as Jarnigor Tukhtaboeva. Her detention came after authorities discovered that her Indian visa was valid only from August 19 to September 2. Despite the expiry of her legal permission to remain in India, she allegedly continued to stay in the country well beyond this period. This prolonged illegal presence has raised serious questions regarding her movements, contacts, and potential links to cross-border activities.
Following her apprehension, a formal case was registered under the Foreigners Act. A joint investigation was immediately launched, involving the local police, the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), and various intelligence agencies. The primary focus of the probe is to reconstruct her complete travel history within India over the past four months.
Intensive Investigation and Border Surveillance
Officials are working to identify every location where she stayed, the people she met, and the sources that financed her movement and expenses during her unauthorized time in India. In the wake of her detention, the SSB significantly intensified surveillance along the Indo-Nepal border.
Security forces deployed dog squads to conduct extensive search operations across unpaved routes, dense bushes, farmlands, and suspected hideouts in the vicinity of the border. Investigators are also examining whether Tukhtaboeva had crossed the border earlier through the same stretch or if she played a role in facilitating the movement of others.
Circle Officer Mayank Kumar Dwivedi confirmed the ongoing investigation, stating, "An FIR was registered and the investigation is underway on multiple points. The entire network, if any, will be exposed." He emphasized that all concerned agencies are working in close coordination.
Digital Trail and Maximum Security Alert
Authorities are preparing a detailed timeline of the Uzbek national's activities. A critical part of the investigation involves a forensic examination of her digital footprint. Her mobile phones, call detail records, social media activity, and other electronic evidence are being meticulously scrutinized for clues.
Given the strategic sensitivity of the Siddharthnagar region bordering Nepal, officials are deeply probing possible Nepal-border linkages. All border police stations have been placed on maximum alert, with instructions for strict checking of suspicious individuals and vehicles. The case underscores the heightened vigilance along India's porous borders and the continuous efforts of security agencies to monitor illegal entries and overstays by foreign nationals.
