Indonesian Woman Held at India-Nepal Border for Allegedly Using Forged Indian Identity Documents

Lucknow, November 14 : Bureau of Immigration officials detained an Indonesian woman at the Sonauli border in Uttar Pradesh's Maharajganj district on November 10 for allegedly possessing forged Indian identity documents and impersonating a Kolkata resident. The woman reportedly came under suspicion after officials noticed that she was unable to speak Hindi properly during questioning.

 

 

The woman, identified as Rohana, was attempting to cross into Nepal when immigration officials questioned her identity. She allegedly presented an Indian voter ID card identifying her as Li Kim Lien, a resident of New Tangra Road in Kolkata, West Bengal.

 

According to the FIR registered at Sonauli police station, the woman arrived at the immigration office around 7.30 pm on November 10 and presented a voter ID card bearing the number ZJJ2157469. The document identified her as Li Kim Lien, daughter of Li Chin Sen, with a date of birth of June 29, 1975.

 

However, her responses during questioning raised doubts about her claimed Indian identity. Officials subsequently examined her passport, which identified her as Rohana, an Indonesian national born on October 20, 1970.

 

The passport, bearing number X2398351, also contained details of an Indian employment visa. According to the FIR, she possessed an E-3 employment visa bearing number VL9126916, valid from October 11, 2025, to November 9, 2026. Her passport also contained details of a multiple-entry Indian visa issued on August 11, 2023.

 

During questioning, Rohana reportedly claimed that she was the president of a Kolkata-based non-governmental organisation (NGO). She further stated that the organisation provided technical assistance to Buddhist monks travelling to China.

 

 

The alleged NGO connection has emerged as an important aspect of the investigation. However, the FIR does not identify the organisation, specify its activities or establish any connection with Chinese government authorities.

 

Officials also reportedly recovered multiple Indian identity documents from her possession. These included a voter ID card, an Aadhaar card and a PAN card issued in the name of Li Kim Lien. Another PAN card was reportedly issued in the name of Rohana. The documents also contained conflicting dates of birth and different identity details.

 

An immigration official source said the investigation was still at an early stage and that no conclusion had been reached regarding possible espionage activities.

 

"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," the official source said.

 

Authorities are examining the circumstances surrounding her alleged use of multiple identities and the authenticity of the documents recovered from her possession. The investigation is also expected to establish the nature of her claimed association with the Kolkata-based NGO.