American tourists to be deported

Kerala, June 14: Police issued deportation notices to three tourists from the United States for organizing prayer meetings in a Hindu area. According to J. Santhosh Kumar, a police official at Haripad in Alappuzha district, they contravened the terms of their visas. He said they had received complaints the Americans visited several homes of poor Hindus, organized prayers and offered them money. Kumar said they informed the US embassy in New Delhi about the tourists’ activities. According to the police, three Pentecostal pastors acted as their local supporters. Jacob Punnoose, director general of police in Kerala, said June 15 that his department is closely watching the activities of foreign tourists.

 – ucan