The Indian security forces amid the Red fort Blasts in Delhi, have detained and arrested two British nationals for illegally entering India from Nepal through the porous Rupaideha border. Both individuals claiming to be medical professionals were found without Indian visas and failed to provide any credible explanation for their suspicious cross-border movement.
The arrests, coming at a time when India is on high alert, have deepened security concerns, especially given that one of the detainees is a Pakistan-origin British doctor with a record of multiple Pakistan visits in recent years.
BREAKING 🚨 Two British nationals Sumitra Shakeel and a Pakistan origin Hassan Amman and have been detained in Bahraich for entering India illegally from Nepal.
Both caught by alert SSB troopers have claimed they are Doctors. Investigations underway…. pic.twitter.com/dQK60OEkuG
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) November 16, 2025
According to officials, the interception occurred around 10 a.m. during an intensified joint checking operation conducted by the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and the Uttar Pradesh Police. Surveillance had been ramped up across Indo-Nepal entry points after the Red Fort blast, prompting stricter scrutiny of vehicles, pedestrians, and foreign nationals.
Commandant Ganga Singh Udawat of SSB’s 42nd Battalion led the operation that resulted in the detention. “Two foreigners who entered India from Nepal were stopped for verification. On checking their documents, we found they were British nationals but had no valid Indian visa. They also failed to give any satisfactory reason for attempting to enter India,” Udawat told media.
The officers reported inconsistencies in the duo’s statements, prompting immediate detention and transfer to the Rupaideha police station.
Who are the detained foreign nationals?
1. Dr Hassan Amman Saleem (35)
- Nationality: British
- Origin: Pakistan
- Father: Mohammad Saleem
- Current Address: Manchester, United Kingdom
- Intelligence Input: Travelled to Pakistan three times in the last three years, according to sources
- Profession: Claims to be a medical doctor
Dr Saleem’s Pakistan-origin background and repeated travel history to Pakistan have raised eyebrows among security agencies. Investigators are probing whether his movement into India without a visa had any link to activities in the region or networks operating along the Indo-Nepal border.
2. Dr Sumitra Shakeel Olivia (61)
- Nationality: British
- Father: John Frederick
- Roots: Udupi, Karnataka
- Current Address: Gloucester, United Kingdom
- Profession: Claims to be a medical doctor
Though originally from India, Olivia’s entry into India without a visa is illegal under Indian law as she holds no OCI card or special travel status. Her inability to explain her attempt to bypass immigration norms has further muddied the narrative.
During questioning, both individuals maintained that they were in Nepalganj on the invitation of a local hospital. However, officials noted discrepancies:
- Neither could produce invitation letters, hospital documents, or professional identification.
- Both attempted to walk across the border through a low-surveillance stretch, bypassing official immigration counters.
- Their answers regarding accommodation, purpose of visit, and duration in Nepal lacked consistency.
- The timing barely 24 hours after a high-profile security incident in Delhi added to the gravity of the situation.
A senior officer involved in the interrogation stated that the duo “appeared evasive and uncomfortable” when pressed about their reasons for crossing into India without mandatory visas.
Superintendent of Police Ramanayan Singh confirmed that the two foreign nationals were officially arrested after the police registered a case under relevant sections of the Passport Act, 1967, which deals with unauthorized entry, misuse of travel documents, and violation of visa norms.
The accused have been produced in court, and police have sought custody for further interrogation. Sources indicate that the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) may also question the detainees, especially in light of the Pakistan-link and multiple cross-border entries via Nepal.
The Rupaideha-Sunauli stretch of the Indo-Nepal border has long been a cause of concern for Indian security forces. The open border meant to facilitate movement between the two friendly nations has been frequently exploited by:
- Human traffickers
- Smugglers
Fake passport holders - Narco-rackets
- Anti-national elements seeking covert entry
A security source noted, “British passports often receive lenient preliminary screening. But the Nepal route is increasingly being used to bypass visa requirements and scrutiny.”
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