US journalist ordered to leave India

Scialla was expected to leave Thoothukudi on Tuesday night. However, no case has been booked against the American, District Superintendent of Police Murali Rambha said.

Meanwhile, four persons, including anti-Sterlite protester Fathima Babu were summoned by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Thoothukudi Town, R Prakash, for an inquiry. Scialla reportedly got access to some of the villages near the copper plant through their reference.

The other three persons are Raja, Reegan and Prince Cardoza, a Thoothukudi-based public interest litigation petitioner, who acted as a translator for Scialla and took him to Pandarampatti village in a two-wheeler on Saturday.

Citing New Year commitments, Fathima Babu, in a written statement, said she would be able to appear on January 2. Cardoza has conveyed that he would appear on January 3, the DSP said.

Further investigations have revealed that Scialla arrived in Thoothukudi on December 27, 2018 and stayed in a private hotel. He had reached India on December 4 on a tourist visa.

He is said to have been working on an story about the anti-Sterlite protest, including the violence that erupted on May 22, 2018. Thirteen people were killed in police firing.

Scialla’s laptop, camera and other documents found in his possession were verified by the police when he was detained. He is deemed to have violated visa conditions for indulging in activities other than tourism.