Dutch National asked to leave the country

Kannur, Kerala, Aug 27 (UNI) The police today issued quit notice to a Dutch national, who arrived on a tourist visa and was engaged in research work, for violating visa norms.

Talking to UNI here, Superintendent of Police Mathew Polycarp said Lousia Johanna, a research scholar from the Netherlands, was staying in Iritty in the district and was engaged in research work on tribals, in violation of her visa norms.

Ms Johana had said she visited the city in connection with her research work, but she did not have proper documents to establish it, he said adding that the Dutch researcher was asked to leave the country, as she did not possess proper documents.

Mr Polycarp said during her stay in the district, she had contacted tribal leaders C K Janu and Geethanandan and the interviews taken by her were found in her computer.

The whole episode came to light when Ms Johana was detained by activists of the Janakeeya Vimochana Munnani (Popular Liberation Front), associated with the Adivasi (tribal) Vimochana Munnani, on August 25, alleging that she was spying.

The activists had accused her of having ulterior motives in conducting a study of the rich Aralam farm and the wildlife sanctuary.

UNI AK/CGV SHB RAI1856