IBNS-CMEDIA: India’s Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel arrested a US national, who claimed to be a former US Navy and Special Forces serviceman, near the India-Nepal border in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday.
According to reports, the man was apprehended while allegedly attempting to cross the border into Nepal without valid travel documents.
Officials familiar with the matter said that, so far, no evidence suggesting any suspicious or anti-national links has been found, the Hindustan Times reported.
“Agencies are independently verifying every claim made by him, including his identity, travel history, previous visits to different countries, and the circumstances in which he entered India,” a senior police officer told the Indian newspaper.
The man, identified as 36-year-old Jordan Brown, claimed to be a resident of California in the United States.
During questioning, Brown reportedly told Indian officials that he had travelled to Thailand on a tourist visa, where he subsequently lost his passport.
He claimed that he later travelled to Sri Lanka by sea before entering India through a sea route last year.
Maharajganj Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Siddharth was quoted by the media as saying: “The SSB apprehended an individual near Sonauli for attempting to enter Nepal without authorisation. Upon questioning, he identified himself as Jordan Brown and stated that he is a US citizen from California.”
The official said no travel documents were found in Brown’s possession.
A case has been registered against the US national at Sonauli Police Station under Sections 21 and 23 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act.
