French scribe arrested

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 11: A French journalist, Paul Edward Comiti, who was arrested last evening from Srinagar for violating visa norms, was sent to 5 day police remand.
SSP Imtiyaz Ismael Parray said that Paul Edward was arrested from Kothi Bagh area of Srinagar for violating visa norms.
He has a passport and a business visa for India, valid up to December 22, 2018. A business visa does not allow anyone to make a documentary on political or security related issues. A case (FIR No 87/2017 dated 10-12-2017 under Section 14B of the Passport Act) has been registered against him.
Police informed French Embassy about Edward’s arrest and Head of Counselor Section of French Embassy in New Delhi, Philippe Decornet today arrived in Srinagar and met the journalist in Police Station Kothi Bagh.
Sources said that the journalist was in touch with an Army officer and a Home Ministry official during his stay in Kashmir. But as soon as Comiti was arrested, they switched off their cell phones.
Sources said that in New Delhi he had applied for permission for filming for a documentary in Kashmir but he was denied it as he was on business visa.
He was here for last 10 days filming stone pelting, human rights day protests and met pellet victims and chairman of separatist Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

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