Kazakhstan dancer performed without business visa at Goa nightclub: Police

PANAJI: (Dec 9) Kazakh national Kristina, who was dancing at the ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub when a massive blaze erupted and claimed 25 lives, didn’t have the business visa to perform in India, police said on Tuesday.

A video was earlier circulated on social media showing the bursting of electric firecrackers and the blaze appearing from the roof of the nightclub. It shows Kristina, who was performing belly dance, and band members, rushing out in panic as the fire spread rapidly.

A senior police officer at the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) told PTI that Kristina, originally from Kazakhstan, had applied for a business visa, but it is not sanctioned yet.

Kristina, who goes by her Instagram name Kristina Sheikh, is a professional dancer with 272,000 followers. Videos posted on her profile indicate that she had been performing regularly at the nightclub.