The Ghent-based freelance photojournalist Simon Clément has been arrested, in the state of Mizoram, in northeast India near the border with neighbouring Myanmar. Belgian press agency says it Belga learnt the news from a reliable source. Local Indian media also reported the arrest. The Indian authorities suspect Clément of crossing the border with Myanmar illegally.
Clément was also in possession of an empty bullet casing, which he said was meant as a souvenir. The situation is sensitive as Indian insurgents are hiding in neighbouring Myanmar.
Clément is said to have been charged both on account of possessing the empty bullet casing and of crossing the border. How long the Ghentian will remain detained is not yet clear.
The Belgian foreign ministry in Brussels says it is aware of the situation and is closely monitoring the case together with the Belgian embassy in New Delhi.
Last year, together with documentary filmmaker Eugenie D'Hooghe and Ghent videographer Kanzi Louagie, Clément reported on the water situation in Syria, a documentary broadcast in the ‘Nomaden’ series on the VRT Canvas TV channel. The programme ‘Drying up Land’ can be viewed on VRT’s online platform VRT MAX.