Team Goemkarponn
BICHOLIM: In a dramatic turn of events on Saturday, two foreign nationals were arrested by the Bicholim Police for staying in India without valid visas or passports, in violation of the Foreigners Act and Passport Entry Rules.
At around 4:30 PM, police conducted a raid at Plot No. 407, Housing Board Colony, Sanquelim, where they discovered two women living illegally in the country.
The first individual, identified as Zarina Voprikova, a 38-year-old from Moscow, Russia, was arrested at the location for staying without a valid visa. According to PSI Viraj Dhauskar of Bicholim Police Station, Voprikova’s arrest was made under the Foreigners Order Act, 1948, and she was remanded to judicial custody for 14 days after being presented before the Magistrate.
Shortly after, at 5:51 PM, another foreign national, Antanina Karpenka, aged 37, from Belarus, was also arrested under similar charges. Karpenka, an IT developer residing at the same address, was found staying in India without a valid passport or visa. She was arrested by PSI Jayprakash Jankar of Bicholim Police Station. Karpenka’s arrest contravenes multiple sections, including the Passport Entry into India Rules, 1950, and the Foreigners Act, 1946.
Both women were produced before the Hon’ble Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) in Bicholim, where they were remanded to judicial custody for 14 days. The investigation is ongoing, with PSI Viraj Dhauskar and PSI Jayprakash Jankar leading the inquiries into the case.
The arrests underscore growing concerns over foreign nationals residing illegally in the region, prompting local authorities to strengthen their vigilance in monitoring visa and passport violations.
