'Woman held with drugs was AF director'

Anilesh S Mahajan / TNN / Mar 10, 2009, 02:08 IST

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Has been deported after bail, says French Embassy.

CHANDIGARH: Frenchwoman Isabelle Normand, whom Kullu police had arrested about a fortnight ago while she was allegedly trying to smuggle 250g charas, was the director of Alliance Francaise (AF), Chandigarh. French embassy officials in New Delhi confirmed this and said that Normand had been deported after she was bailed out.
AF centres are supported by the embassy and are meant to strengthen cultural and educational links between India and France.
French embassy��s media and communication attache Alain Perrier told TOI that Normand was no longer heading AF in Chandigarh.
Perrier stated that he did not know if the French government or embassy had taken any action against her. ��All I can add is that a new director will take charge of the AF centre soon,�� Perrier said. Sources in Himachal Pradesh police said cops had detained

Normand at the Bajaura check post on Kullu-Mandi highway on February 23.
��She first tried to conceal her identity and hush up the matter. But when officials insisted on her arrest, she told them about her French links,�� said an HP police official. He added that at the time, Normand had said she was part of a technical team from the embassy.
Jagat Ram, who was superintendent of police at Kullu at the time of Normand��s arrest, said cops had told French embassy about her arrest for possessing a ��non-commercial contraband.�� She was given bail by a local court. Kullu SP KK Indoriya said Normand was given immunity under the Foreigners Act and could be summoned whenever the court wanted.
Chandigarh AF officials told TOI on Monday that Normand had not come to office for the past fortnight and expressed ignorance over reasons for her absence. Secretary and treasurer of the institute are in charge of the centre at present. They stated that Normand could have left for France for personal reasons.

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