Nityanand Jayaraman

This evening, Mr. Wieland Wagner, a reporter with German magazine Der Spiegel was picked up after he reportedly entered the Koodankulam nuclear power plant seeking an interview with officials. He was stopped after he went past the security at the first gate. Three police personnel who were manning the gates are reportedly under suspension. He is being interrogated in the Palavur Police Station.

LATEST: Mr. Wieland Wagner was released from the Pazhavur police station at around 10 p.m. after having been detained and detained for nearly 5.30 hours, if I understood Mr. Wagner correctly. According to Mr. Wagner, his mobile phone was seized when the police picked him up, and he was prevented from making any phone calls to his magazine despite his requests. After completing his interviews in Idinthakarai, Mr. Wagner went to Koodankulam to visit the power plant and interview officials. He sought entry at the main gate by stating his intent to see the Visitor Centre and possibly interview officials. The guards at the gate obliged. At the second gate, he was stopped and told that he was not meant to be in there. The police then took him to Pazhavur Police Station, where he was interrogated. He was detained for more than 5 hours despite having displayed his press credentials to the police.