MUMBAI: On September 10, David Bradbury, a 73-year-old Australian documentary filmmaker, arrived at Chennai airport with his two children, Nakeita (21) and Omar (14). He had intended to spend two weeks in India, visiting multiple tourist spots. However, upon arrival, only the children were permitted to enter, while Bradbury was detained.
Bradbury endured a troubling ordeal, allegedly held for over 24 hours without access to the Australian embassy, medication, or even basic restroom facilities. His children were allowed to pass through immigration, while he was ultimately deported back to Bangkok, where they had traveled from.
This was not Bradbury’s first visit to India. In 2012, he participated as a jury member in the Mumbai International Film Festival and subsequently documented the protests against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu. His involvement in these protests, along with his articles on the subject, suggests that his current detention might be linked to his previous activism.
Detention Experience
During his detention, Bradbury was confined to a small, unsanitary room. He claims he was pressured to disclose the purpose of his visit and contact details of his associates in India, which he refused to do. Despite several requests for medical assistance and basic necessities, he alleges that authorities neglected his needs.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has been contacted for comment but has not yet responded.
A Trip for Closure
The trip was also personal for Bradbury, following the recent death of his wife, Treena, an activist and filmmaker. He hoped to take his son Omar to Varanasi to explore Hindu customs surrounding death and mourning. Bradbury criticized the Indian government for planning to build nuclear reactors on a fault line, emphasizing the catastrophic potential of a meltdown.
Faced with their father’s deportation, Nakeita and Omar had to decide whether to continue their journey alone or return to Bangkok with him. Despite the distressing circumstances, they chose to carry on with their travel plans, expressing sadness and disbelief at their father’s treatment.
As they navigate their travels, the siblings are next set to head to Milan, Italy.
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