The proprietor of a hotel in Kathmandu, Nepal, claimed on Wednesday that Seema Haider, a Pakistani national who was detained in Noida after entering India illegally in May, had stayed there with Sachin Meena, an Indian national, and that the two had reserved a room under the alias “Shivansh” while they were there.
A guesthouse owner in Nepal named Ganesh told ANI that Meena and Haider stayed there for 7-8 days in March. The hotel closes around 9.30 or 10 p.m., so they periodically left their room throughout their stay but usually stayed inside, according to him.
The hotel had been reserved in advance by Sachin, who also told the employees that his “wife,” Seema, would be joining him the next day.
He claimed that Seema showed there as anticipated and that they both went on their own, without any children. “Sachin used the name “Shivansh” during their stay, and they made their payment in cash using Indian currency notes,” he continued.
The Anti-Terrorist Squad of the Uttar Pradesh Police questioned Haider about the meeting, her entry into India through Nepal, and other facts on Tuesday for a total of 12 hours.
Around 8.30 am, Meena and his father Netrapal Singh were also picked up to be questioned from their home in the Rabupura neighbourhood of Greater Noida. They were then transported to the ATS’s unit office in Noida, where the questioning proceeded until late in the day.
Haider insisted throughout the interrogation that she only travelled to India to see Sachin Meena, her lover.
The ATS is currently cross-verifying her claims using information from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL). According to information cited by News18, ATS has her cell phone and other objects in its custody in order to extract data.
Although it is still too early to draw firm conclusions, the UP Police, who are also working on the case, have stated that her involvement in spying has not been suspected. The matter reported under the Foreigners Act is being looked into separately by the local police, who have not yet filed any charges.
Nothing could be said about espionage claims at this early stage, according to Prashant Kumar, special director general of police for Uttar Pradesh. “Two nations are involved in the issue. It would not be acceptable to comment on this until we have enough evidence, he said.
In response to worries over security lapses, Kumar claimed that India’s border with Nepal is porous. “There, a passport is not required. No one has anything written on their face. Additionally, Kumar stated that no team is going to Nepal to look into how Haider entered India.
Initially detained on July 4 by the Greater Noida police, Haider (30) and Meena (22) were later released on bail on July 7 by a judge.
The couple’s arrest will depend on the outcome of the investigation into this very sensitive national security subject, a UP ATS officer informed PTI.
CROSS-BORDER Love Story of PUBG
In May, Haider travelled from Nepal to India on a bus with her four kids in order to live with Meena. The couple first connected in 2019 through the online game PUBG. They later claimed to have wed in Nepal earlier this year.
