Four foreign women escape from FRRO shelter

Four foreign nationals housed at a refugee shelter under the supervision of the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) escaped from the premises in the early hours of May 11 by breaking open a window grill at the facility located in Doddagubbi under the Kothanur police station limits.

According to the police, the complaint was filed by Srinivas N., manager of “Home of Hope” shelter, who stated that the women escaped between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. from the second floor of the building.

The shelter, run by a charitable organisation since 1998, had been accommodating foreign nationals on the directions of FRRO authorities due to shortage of space in detention centres. At present, the shelter houses 22 male and 18 female foreign nationals.

The escaped women have been identified as Topista Kwikiriza and Nagawa Sheillah alias Tibiwa Irena from Uganda, Safina Nakanyike from Uganda, and Fitina Nzeyimana from Burundi.

Police said the women had earlier been detained by different police stations and FRRO officials for overstaying in India and allegedly being involved in illegal activities. They were later shifted to the shelter for temporary accommodation.

The complainant stated that staff members searched for the women after discovering the escape, but their whereabouts could not be traced, following which a complaint was lodged with the police.

Based on the complaint, Kothanur police registered a case under Sections 20 and 23 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, for violation of FRRO regulations and illegal stay in the country.