Four African Women Escape From Bengaluru Shelter Home After Breaking Window Grills

Four African women lodged at a shelter home in north Bengaluru escaped by allegedly breaking the grills of a second-floor window, triggering a police search operation and raising concerns over security arrangements at the facility.

The incident took place between 3 am and 6 am on May 11 at the ‘Home of Hope’ shelter home run by New Ark Mission of India near Doddagubbi-Chikkagubbi under the Kothanur police station limits. The shelter was housing foreign nationals under the supervision of the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) .

According to a complaint filed by shelter manager Srinivas N , the centre housed 22 male foreign nationals and 18 female foreign nationals who had been brought from different police stations across Bengaluru. The four women who escaped were identified as Topista Kwikiriza , Nagawa Sheillah alias Tibiwa Irena , Safina Nakanyike , and Fitina Nzeyimana .

Police said the women allegedly escaped after breaking the grill of a second-floor window despite security arrangements at the shelter. Reports quoting officials said the women were believed to be nationals of Uganda and Nigeria and were staying at the facility after allegedly overstaying their visas in India.

Sources cited in media reports said the FRRO had shifted several foreign nationals to the private shelter home because detention facilities lacked sufficient space. The shelter was reportedly accommodating foreign nationals from countries including Uganda, Nigeria, Kenya, and Bangladesh.

Srinivas told police that shelter authorities initially conducted searches on their own and approached the police only after failing to trace the women, explaining the delay in lodging the FIR.

Police have registered a case under Sections 20 and 23 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 , for alleged violation of FRRO directions. Investigators are also examining possible security lapses at the shelter home, while search teams have been deployed in and around Bengaluru to locate the women.