Tightening the noose on those opposing the Kudankulam nuclear project, the government has registered cases against four NGOs for allegedly diverting funds to fuel protests and deported a German national for assisting the agitators. Union Home Secretary R K Singh told reporters in New Delhi that cases have been registered against these NGOs for violation of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act. The cases were registered by the Crime Branch of the Tamil Nadu Police and the CBI.

Bank accounts of the four NGOs have also been frozen after an inquiry conducted by the Home Ministry reportedly found them diverting funds meant for charity to fuel the protests.

Earlier, a German national was picked up by Tamil Nadu Police in Nagercoil for allegedly assisting the protests and deported him in the wee hours today. The German, Sonnteg Reiner Hermann against whom a 'look-out notice' was issued by the Home Ministry, was detained by the police after they were alerted by the Central intelligence agencies.

The action came days after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had stated that non-governmental organisations have received support from abroad for leading protests against the much-awaited nuclear power plant.