Kochi: An Israeli couple, against whom
deportation orders were issued by the district administration,
have been allowed to stay in the country till April 1.
The deportation order against them has been withdrawn,
Ernakulam District Collector P I Sheikh Pareeth said.
The couple -- Sheneor Zalman, a Rabi (priest), and Yaffa
Shenoi could stay in the country till April 1, but they
cannot conduct group prayer meets, Pareeth said.
In their application to the Indian High Commission, the
couple had said that they wanted to conduct prayer meetings.
Since their visas do not mention it, a clarification in this
regard has to be taken from the High Commission, he said.
Yesterday, the Kerala High court had directed the couple
to appear before the collector and offer their explanation on
their petition challenging their deportation.
The couple had come to India in 2010 on a multiple entry
visa.
According to them, the deportation order was passed
without hearing them, which was against the principles of
natural justice, they stated in the petition.
There were media reports claiming that central
intelligence had received an alert about covert operations
being carried out by suspected Israeli agents after the 26/11
Mumbai attacks in which six Jews were killed in Chabad House.
An alert was sent to all the states and the Israeli
couple were tracked by the police here, the report had stated,
but there was no official confirmation.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, February 15, 2012, 22:32