Two British doctors were arrested in northern India after crossing from Nepal without valid visas, authorities said on Monday. The pair were detained on Saturday at the Rupaidiha border in Uttar Pradesh state during heightened security following a deadly car explosion in Delhi.
The doctors, identified as Dr Hassan Amman Saleem, 35, from Manchester, and Dr Sumitra Shakeel Olivia, 61, from Gloucester, were working as audiologists on a medical mission in Nepal with the charity Britain Nepal Otology Service (Brinos). They were intercepted shortly after walking across the frontier.
Ganga Singh Udawat, commandant of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) 42nd Battalion, said a document check revealed they lacked valid Indian visas and could not provide a satisfactory reason for entry. They were handed over to local police, who registered a case under the Passport Act 1967.
Neil Weir, founder of Brinos, said the pair had left their team during free time to visit the border out of curiosity. Dr Olivia was reportedly keen to set foot in India despite warnings from Nepalese authorities not to cross. The UK Foreign Office confirmed it is supporting the two British nationals and is in contact with local authorities.
