In “pursuit of peace”, Bonetekia Zoia set out from Saint Petersburg in Russia on a long and treacherous journey for a pilgrimage to the Amaranth cave shrine in Kashmir.
However, her “journey to peace” was interrupted when she was arrested by the J&K Police on August 24 near the Sonamarg tourist resort and found without travel documents, including a passport or a valid visa.
Zoia, who converted to Hinduism some four years ago, was charged under Section 14 of the J&K Foreigners Act for not having a passport and visa by the J&K police and charge-sheeted before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ganderbal.
Zoia, 40, is married to Alexander Rekh and has two children, including an 18-year-old daughter. During her trial, she was in touch with her family and the Russian embassy through her lawyer.
The court convicted her of the offences committed under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act and on December 17 sentenced Zoia to one-year imprisonment. She is currently lodged at Central Jail in Srinagar.
Her counsel Omar Rashid, who represented her in the courts, says that Zoia’s story needs to be understand in the ambit of “humanity and peace.”
“When she was arrested, she was in a different state of mind. She wanted to be near to her God. That is why when she crossed over to India via Nepal border before being arrested in Kashmir in August, Zoia did not bother to carry travel documents. Her only urge was to visit the Amarnarth cave shrine,” says Rashid, who has now dispatched a “humanitarian appeal” to the Governor, seeking pardon for her.
Rashid says that Zoia, who calls herself ‘Sadhu’, stayed for some time at the Pashupati Nath ashram in Nepal, where she was issued an identity card. On the basis of the ID card she made her “hassle-free” entry to India.
In fact, her family was aware that she was travelling to Kashmir for the Amaranth pilgrimage and was in search of “moksha”.
“Even during the trial, Zoia confessed that she did not carry the travel documents and did not care for man-made boundaries and hassles,” Rashid said. In her appeal before the Governor, Zoia has highlighted that she was in search of peace and that is why she undertook such a long journey to attain salvation, Rashid added.
“We appeal to the Governor to intervene in this case and pardon her,” the lawyer said, adding that Zoia had also complained about her “maltreatment” by the police and the “difficult conditions” in the jail.
Russian’s quest for ‘moksha’ sans visa lands her in Srinagar jail
