New Delhi: Australian documentary filmmaker David Bradbury, aged 73, faced detention, mistreatment, and deportation upon his arrival at Chennai airport, while traveling with his two children. The incident stemmed from his involvement in a documentary about the 2012 protests against the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in India.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Bradbury’s ordeal began when he was separated from his children, Nakeita (21) and Omar (14), during immigration checks. The filmmaker was detained for over 24 hours, during which he was reportedly denied access to basic necessities and the Australian embassy, and deprived of his medication.
Indian news outlet, The Wire, detailed that Bradbury was interrogated about his past activities in India, including his 2012 visit to Idinthakarai, a village impacted by the nuclear power plant protests. His previous visit involved documenting the local opposition to the plant, which had sparked controversy due to safety and environmental concerns.
Bradbury, who had previously served on the jury at the Mumbai International Film Festival in 2012, recounted his harsh treatment during detention, including being forced to urinate in a paper cup as he was not allowed access to a toilet. He expressed serious concerns about the safety of the nuclear plant, citing potential disaster risks similar to those seen in Fukushima or Chernobyl.
The filmmaker suspects that his detention and subsequent deportation are linked to his documentary work, which highlighted the local community’s resistance against the nuclear project and the associated police violence.