SRINAGAR: A freelance French journalist and documentary filmmaker, Comiti Paul Edward, has been arrested by police in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, for violating the visa norms and shooting documentary on pellet victims.
A police official said French journalist Edward was arrested by police on Sunday from the Pratap Park area of Srinagar.
He said Edward was having a business visa for India, which is valid upto December 22, 2018.
“In violation of his visa norms, he was indulging in journalistic work and shooting a documentary on pellet victims. Besides, he had also met some separatist leaders,” the official.
He said the French journalist was arrested for violating the terms and conditions of the visa.
“When French journalist was arrested, he was covering a protest at Pratap Park area,” the official said.
Police have registered FIR number 87/2017 under section 14 (B) Passport Act against him.
The police official said the French journalist’s passport, camera, other equipments and documents have been seized.
After his arrest, the French journalist was presented before a magistrate in Srinagar. He has been sent to police custody till December 16 and lodged in Police Station Kothibagh.
The police official said after Edward’s arrest, they informed the French embassy in New Delhi about his arrest.
He said an official from the French embassy today arrived in Srinagar and met Edward in Police Station Kothibagh.
Sources said the French embassy official also met some police officials to know more details about the case and Edward’s arrest.
Sources said the French journalist has told the police officials that he had applied for journalism visa for Kashmir but was not granted.
They said police has launched investigation to ascertain which places the French journalist had gone in Valley and with whom he had met.
Meanwhile, J&K State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) while hearing a petition filed by human rights activist Mohammad Ahsan Untoo today on detention of French journalist directed the Station House Office (SHO) of Police Station Kothibagh, where arrested French national is lodged, to file a status report about the case by December 18.