'Failed to speak Hindi': Indonesian woman with China links caught at Nepal border

Indonesian woman held at Sonauli border with alleged forged Indian IDs; NGO links under investigation

LUCKNOW: An Indonesian woman, who allegedly posed as a Kolkata resident using forged Indian identity documents and claimed to be president of an NGO assisting Buddhist monks travelling to China, was caught by bureau of immigration officials at the Sonauli border in Maharajganj district after she was unable to speak Hindi properly during questioning.The woman, identified as Rohana, was intercepted on Nov 10 while attempting to cross into Nepal. She was allegedly carrying an Indian voter ID card, Aadhaar card and two PAN cards bearing different names and conflicting dates of birth. Her claimed association with a Kolkata-based NGO facilitating visits to China has emerged as a key aspect of the case.

According to an FIR registered at Sonauli police station, the woman initially identified herself as Li Kim Lien, daughter of Li Chin Sen, and claimed to be a resident of New Tangra Road in Kolkata, West Bengal.The complaint lodged by immigration officer stated that the woman arrived at the Sonauli immigration office around 7.30 pm on Nov 10 and presented an Indian voter ID card bearing the number ZJJ2157469.The document identified her as Li Kim Lien, born on June 29, 1975, with a residential address at 8, New Tangra Road, under Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Tangra, Kolkata.However, immigration officials became suspicious when she was unable to speak Hindi properly.

Her responses during questioning raised doubts about her claimed Indian identity, prompting officials to examine her passport.The passport, bearing number X2398351, identified her as Rohana, an Indonesian citizen born on Oct 20, 1970. It also showed that she possessed an Indian employment visa.The FIR states that she held an E-3 employment visa bearing number VL9126916, valid from Oct 11, 2025, to Nov 9, 2026.

Her passport also contained details of a multiple-entry Indian visa issued on Aug 11, 2023.During questioning, the woman reportedly told immigration officials that she was working as president of an NGO based in Kolkata. She further claimed that the organisation provided technical assistance to Buddhist monks travelling to China.The FIR neither identifies the NGO nor specifies the nature of its activities or establishes any link with Chinese govt authorities."We are still in the initial stage of investigation to claim or deny if the woman was involved in espionage or any other activity beyond the alleged immigration and identity-document offences," an immigration official source said.According to the FIR, officials found that the woman possessed an Indian voter ID card, Aadhaar card and PAN card in the name of Li Kim Lien, while another PAN card was issued in the name of Rohana.

The FIR alleges that the woman had obtained Indian identity documents by changing her name and address despite being an Indonesian citizen.Police registered the case under Sections 319(2), 336(3), 338 and 340(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, relating to cheating by personation, forgery and use of forged documents, along with Sections 22 and 23 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.