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Indian journalist deported
View(s):Indian journalist Maha Tamil Prabhakaran who was arrested for filming an Army camp in the north was deported last night after Terrorist Investigations Department (TID) handed him over to the immigrations authorities. According to Visa and Border Controller M. N. Ranasinghe, Mr. Prabhakaran was served with a removal notice for violating his visa conditions.
The journalist who works for Chennai-based Junior Vikatan magazine had been detained by the TID for questioning since his arrest on Christmas day in Kilinochchi. “He entered the country on a tourist visa, but according to the TID who did the investigations he had violated the conditions in the visa. Therefore, we removed him from the country immediately after he was handed over to us” he said.
The 24-year-old journalist had visited Kilinochchi accompanied by Tamil National Alliance Parliamentarian S. Sritharan and Northern Provincial Council member Pasupathi Pillai. He had come to Sri Lanka on the invitation of Mr. Sritharan. Police Spokesperson Ajith Rohana, said Mr. Prabakharan had violated conditions of entry outlined under a tourist visa.
“He has not declared that he was a journalist in the application. Also he has been photographing military camps and movement of military personnel,” SSP Rohana said.