Nine French tourists detained in Bihar

Patna, April 22 (IANS) Nine French tourists were detained in Bihar's Nawada district for violating visa conditions and later sent out of the state Sunday, police said.

Bihar police chief Abhyanand told IANS over telephone that the French tourists were detained for violating visa rules as they participated in a meeting organised by an NGO.

"We got information Saturday that some French tourists were moving in the interior part of Nawada. We alerted district police that located them as they were moving with members of the NGO in its padyatra and participated in a meeting," he said.

Abhyanand said that it amounted to violation of visa rules as they had tourist visas but took part in the activities of the NGO.

"It was an open violation of tourist visas," he said.

According to officials in Nawada, the French tourists were sent outside the state following an order from the state administration.

Police also informed the French embassy about the incident.