American missionaries asked to leave India before Sunday

The missionaries should have to renew their visa every six months. But they did not do so for the past six months and had been asked to leave the country before November 19, they said.

Reacting to the Home Ministry directive, the missionaries, working for a school attached to the church at Meyyampul village, said they felt disappointed and would take up the issue with the American Embassy.

They, however, said they would go to Sri Lanka and come back after a short stay there.

District Collector Mani Bharathi said that investigations revealed the missionaries had not indulged in any anti-social or anti-national activities, but had only violated the law by not presenting themselves before the police for renewal of visa.

They had, in fact, paid Rs 10,000 for processing their visa renewal at the district treasury, but failed to turn up before the police, which was mandatory under law. The evangelists belonged to the same family.

Meanwhile, top sources in the office of the American Consulate General, Chennai, said they had absolutely no information about the matter.

In this connection, a top official said, “I have no information. I have no comment and nothing to say.”