Thiruvananthapuram: American missionary Joseph W Cooper, recuperating in a hospital in Thiruvananthapuram for injuries suffered in an attack by suspected Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) men last week, has been directed by police to leave the country within seven days for violating visa rules.

"We have served orders to Cooper to leave the country within seven days for preaching while on tourist visa and thereby violating visa rules," district superintendent of police (Rural) T K Vinodkumar said.

A special branch probe had prima facie found that Cooper had violated a 1995 Central order restricting foreign citizens visiting India on tourist visas from preaching at religious meetings.

The Ministry of External Affairs and the Union Home Department had asked for a report from the state police on the charge that Cooper had spoken at religious conventions.

The 67-year-old Cooper, an ordained Bishop of the New Jerusalem Church from Kingswood, New Castle, Pennsylvania, was attacked along with a team of local evangelists at Koppam near Kilimanur while they were returning after a prayer meeting at night on January 13.

PTI