Russian Woman Awarded One Year Imprisonment In Kashmir

20 December, Srinagar

A Woman from Russia has been sent to one year imprisonment by a local court in the central Kashmir district of Ganderbal for illegally entering the country without any valid document.

A woman, who identified herself as 44-year-old Bonetekia Zoia, a resident of Lenningard, currently known as Saint Petersburg, Russia was arrested on August 24 on Srinagar-Baltal road when the annual pilgrimage to holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas was in progress.

The woman was taken into custody by Road Opening Party (ROP), providing security to pilgrims, after she was found in suspicious conditions.

However, she could not produce any travel document, including passport or visa besides she had not registered herself at any police station, necessary for all foreigners visiting Kashmir.

An FIR was registered against her for illegally entering the country and later, taken into custody. After changing many statements she finally told the Investigation Officer (IO) that she had entered the country through Nepal to undertake the Amarnath yatra.

The court awarded her one year imprisonment and sent her to Srinagar Central Jail.

The court has also asked the jail superintendent to process the case of her deportation once she completes sentence. However, the IO informed the court that during the course of investigation, Russian embassy in New Delhi was contacted but there was no response.