Indian authorities have issued a ‘Leave India’ notice to two British tourists after they were found pasting stickers supporting Palestine at public locations in Rajasthan’s Ajmer district, officials said on Tuesday.
The action was taken under the Immigration and Foreigners Act after the Intelligence Department flagged the activity as a violation of tourist visa conditions. The visas of both foreign nationals were revoked, and they were directed to leave the country.
What Authorities Said
The tourists, identified as Lewis Gabriel D. and his partner Anushi Emma Christine, had entered India on tourist visas and were staying in Pushkar. On January 21, intelligence agencies received inputs that the couple had pasted “Free Palestine” stickers at multiple public places.
Following a review of CCTV footage and local intelligence, the suspects were identified and subsequently questioned by a team led by Additional Superintendent of Police (CID) Rajesh Meena.
During questioning, officials said it emerged that the couple had engaged in political and ideological activity, which is not permitted under the terms of a tourist visa.
Legal Action Taken
Police removed the stickers with the assistance of local authorities. Officials confirmed that the case was handled in accordance with immigration laws, leading to:
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Revocation of both visas
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Issuance of a formal Leave India Notice
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Directions for immediate departure from the country
Authorities noted that in such cases, foreign nationals may also face detention, deportation proceedings, and potential blacklisting, which could bar future entry into India.
Rules on Tourist Visas
Officials reiterated that political, protest-related, or ideological activities are strictly prohibited for individuals visiting India on tourist visas. Any violation can attract strict legal consequences.
Broader Context
The incident comes amid heightened geopolitical sensitivities in West Asia. Separately, Israel’s Ambassador to India Reuven Azar told NDTV that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Israel later this month, a move expected to further strengthen bilateral ties across defence, technology, trade, and security.
