Norwegian woman asked to leave country for joining anti-CAA protests

Kochi: The Foreign Regional Registration Office (FRRO) at Cochin International Airport on Friday asked a Norwegian woman, Janne-Mette Johansson (71) to leave the country after she participated in an anti-Citizen Amendment Act (CAA) protest here on December 23.

Foreign Regional Registration Officer Mr Anoop Krishnan told Newsmeter that she has been asked to pack her bags and head home because she had violated tourist visa restrictions.

“The conditions of tourist visa do not permit other activities like participating in demonstrations. She is not supposed to participate in any protests as per her visa rules. Every month we pack up many tourists for such activities,” said Mr Krishnan.

The Immigration officials under FRRO reached her Fort Kochi hotel and asked her to vacate pronto. The visibly upset lady tried to convince the officials but in vain. She also wondered taking part in peaceful protests amounted to a violation of laws. Johannson, who is on her fifth visit to India, indicated that this could be her last visit to the country.

On Thursday Johansson was summoned to the FRRO at Cochin airport from her hotel room and was subject to prolonged interrogation in this regard. She was asked about her contacts in India. She was let off with a warning and was informed that a decision would be conveyed later, which the officials did on Friday.

In fact, Johansson had cancelled a trip to Assam and diverted to Kerala after she came to know about the violence in North East. Her Facebook posts also feature statements of writer Arundhati Roy.

The facebook post of Johansson published on Friday reads:

“A couple of hours back the Bureau of Immigration showed up at my hotel again. I was told to leave the country at once, or legal actions would be taken. I asked for an explanation and also something in writing. I was told I would not get anything in writing. The officer from the Bureau is not leaving me before he can see that I have a flight ticket. Now pretty soon on my way to the airport. A friend fixing a flight ticket to Dubai and from there catching a flight back home to Sweden”.