Rupnagar, Punjab:
A German national arrested last week near Bhakra dam in Punjab was on a "spying mission", police alleged on Wednesday.
L K Yadav, Senior Superintendent of Police, Ropar, claimed that Thomas Kuehn, a resident of Hamburg, had confessed that he was on a "spying mission" for Germany.
The 45-year-old German national was staying in a Hindu temple near Bhakra dam. He does not possess any passport, visa or other required documents, police said.
Yadav said that police parties have been dispatched to Goa, Dharamshala and Nepal border to get further information about the visits of Kuehn to these places.
He said after his arrest, Kuehn continuously changed statements. Earlier he said he lost his passport and later he claimed that his Russian girlfriend had taken away his passport. "We are looking into all aspects of this matter," the SSP said.
Kuehn has been booked under various sections of Foreigners' Act. It was revealed during investigation that this was his second visit to India.
"He came to India in 2004 and visited various places in Himachal Pradesh and in Jammu and Kashmir before returning. He again came to India in 2007 and, thereafter, he did not return to his home country," the SSP said.
Police sources said that during the last 10 years, Kuhen visited various countries in Europe, America and Africa.