German held without valid documents in Punjab

ROPAR - A 45-year-old German national, who was staying near Himachal Pradeh’s Bhakra dam, was arrested without any passport, visa and other required documents near Punjab’s Nangal town in Ropar district, police said Saturday.

Disguised as a ’sadhu’ (ascetic) with long hair and beard, Thomas Kuehn, a resident of Hamburg in Germany, was staying near the Kali Mata temple on the banks of the Bhakra dam.

“The German national has no passport, visa papers and other documents regarding his entry into India. We arrested him during our regular search operation in this area yesterday (Friday),” said L.K. Yadav, senior superintendent of police, Ropar.

“We suspect him as he is continuously changing statements. Earlier he said he lost his passport and later he claimed that his Russian girlfriend had taken away his passport to Nepal. We are looking into all aspects of this matter,” he added.

Kuehn has been booked under various sections of Foreigners’ Act.

It was revealed during investigation that this was his second visit to India.

“He came to India in 2004 and visited various places in Himachal Pradesh and in Jammu and Kashmir before returning. He again came to India in 2007 and, thereafter, he did not return to his home country,” police sources said.

Police sources said that during the last 10 years Kuhen visited various countries in Europe, America and Africa.