The scope of the investigation into the case of Rohana, an Indonesian woman apprehended at the Sonauli border during an immigration check, has expanded. Security agencies are probing whether her 22-year-long residence in India—during which she concealed her true identity—was genuinely linked to a Buddhist center for religious and cultural purposes, or if other activities were being conducted under that cover.
Investigators are also examining the connections involving the ‘Hoguang Shan’ (Kolkata Buddhist Center) and Jigmat Paljor, a resident of Ladakh. A police team is set to visit the center in Kolkata, where Rohana claims to be the president. However, investigations so far suggest that she has been living at the center and serving as a nun. On Friday, the investigating officer, Ajay Kumar, issued a notice to Paljor, directing him to record his statement within seven days. The probe has revealed that Paljor facilitated travel to China for several Indian Buddhist monks—including Bhikkhu Sanghasena—and handled their ticket bookings.
The Kolkata Buddhist Center was established in 1998 by ‘Buddha International,’ an organization based in Taiwan. The center is frequently visited by members of the Chinese community. ‘Hoguang Shan’ is an international Buddhist organization headquartered in Taiwan, and its Kolkata branch is active among the Chinese-origin Buddhist community. Historical Buddhist ties exist between Indonesia and China.
The center also maintains links with a Chinese Buddhist temple in Lumbini, Nepal. Rohana was responsible for arranging the travel of Buddhist monks from Kolkata to Nepal and China. She had managed to obtain an Indian voter ID card, an Aadhaar card, and a PAN card; her name is even registered on the electoral roll for the Entally assembly constituency.
The Tangra area of Kolkata has been known for decades as a settlement for people of Chinese origin. Security agencies are investigating whether Rohana obtained the documents with the help of local contacts, or if an organized gang active along the border facilitated the process for him. The police are also looking into where he used these documents—specifically, whether he opened a bank account, engaged in property transactions, or availed of any other facilities based on them.
