During a two-day interrogation by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terror Squad (UP ATS), Seema Haider, a resident of Pakistan, came under scrutiny, leading to the recovery of five Pakistan-authorised passports, an unused passport, and an identity card, among other items. The UP director general of police (DGP) office stated that the investigation is ongoing regarding these documents, as well as the four mobile phones and two video cassettes found in Seema’s possession. The accused are currently out on bail, while the district police take necessary legal action concerning her illegal entry into India.
Authorities are exploring the espionage angle, as it is suspected that Seema, aged 27, crossed the Nepal border to enter India. The UP ATS is investigating along with her Indian husband, Sachin Meena (aged 22), and his father, Netrapal Singh, to ascertain whether Seema has any connections to espionage activities.
The Gautam Buddha Nagar police have reached out to the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and UP ATS to conduct further investigations based on the evidence gathered thus far.
The note provided details of the route Seema Haider took to enter India. On March 10, she departed from Pakistan’s Karachi airport and arrived at Sharjah airport (UAE), then traveled to Kathmandu airport, Nepal, on a 15-day tourist visa. On March 17, she returned to Pakistan through the same route. Sachin Meena, on the other hand, reached Gorakhpur on March 8, proceeded to the Sonauli border on March 9, and left for Kathmandu. On March 10, he picked up Seema from the airport, and they both stayed at the New Vinayak Hotel in Kathmandu until March 17.
Seema Haider later left Pakistan for the second time on May 10, again on a 15-day tourist visa. She traveled with four of her children, starting from Karachi to Dubai and then to Kathmandu. The note indicated that she took a public transport van to Pokhara, Nepal, where she stayed in a hotel for one night. On March 12, she crossed the Rupandehi-Khunwa border in Siddharthnagar district, entering India. Seema reached Gautam Buddha Nagar via Lucknow and Agra, eventually staying with Sachin Meena in Rabupura (Greater Noida), where he had previously rented a room.
Their acquaintance began in 2020 through the gaming platform PUBG, and after approximately 15 days of playing together, they exchanged phone numbers and started communicating on WhatsApp.
On July 4, Seema Haider, Sachin Meena, and his father, Netrapal Singh, were arrested for illegal entry into India and providing shelter to Seema. They were charged under various sections of the Foreigners Act, the Indian Penal Code, and the Passport Act. After 14 days of judicial custody, they were granted bail on July 7.
