New Delhi, Sep 15 (IANS) The Singapore government has deported an Indian activist who had come here in connection with the annual meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Wilfred D'Costa, the general secretary of the Ahmedabad-based Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF) that works primarily to 'resist' globalisation, was detained at the airport for over five hours and later deported by the Singapore immigration authorities, according to a press release.

Immigration authorities also took D'Costa's photo and fingerprints, cancelled his visa and issued him a 'refusal of entry', citing that he was ineligible to enter the country under the present immigration rules. Later, he was made to wait for hours at the airport lockup. Further, he was not allowed to use either the phone or the Internet.

"I was questioned by over 15 Singapore airport police, my baggage rummaged through five times and several documents I had were photocopied. Publications on water privatisation that I was carrying to distribute at meetings were confiscated," D'Costa said after landing in Mumbai.

D'Costa had a two-year multiple entry visa to Singapore. He was among 23 people who were deported.

More than 16,000 delegates are expected to attend the weeklong World Bank meeting in the island state.