German national deported for aiding anti-nuke protests

A German national was deported from Tamil Nadu in the wee hours on Tuesday after he was picked up by police in Nagercoil for his alleged "active involvement" in the protests against the Kudankulam nuclear power plant project.

Sonnteg Reiner Hermann, 49, was detained on Monday night in Nagercoil by a section of Q branch police officials monitoring the anti-KNPP protests after they were alerted by central intelligence agencies, police sources said in Chennai.

In New Delhi, acting Ambassador of Germany Meier Klodt told reporters that they learned about the incident on Tuesday morning.

"Through our channels we have been informed that by now the German has left the country. I don't have any more information at my disposal," he said.

Asked whether the German embassy has contacted the Indian government, the envoy replied in the negative.

After being picked up in Nagercoil in southern Tamil Nadu, Hermann was brought to Chennai on Monday night for interrogation and was deported from the international air terminus around 1 am.

Minister of State in PMO V Narayanasamy said the German national was staying in a small hotel near the Kudankulam plant and that he has been going around for the last 15 days.

"On suspicion, the Tamil Nadu government followed him and ultimately found that he has been roaming around the area.... we have been informed that he has been actively involved in the anti-nuclear programme, especially the Kudankulam power plant," he said.

The arrest comes days after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh accused US-based NGOs of funding the protests.