The Indian government has asked three Chinese journalists working for official Xinhua News Agency to leave the country this month, refusing to extend their visas, Fox News reported Sunday.

An Indian official on Sunday declined to disclose reasons for refusal to renew the visas, but said Xinhua could send their replacements.

The official said the three journalists had received several visa extensions and one of them has been in India for the past seven years. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to talk to reporters.

A Hindu newspaper report on Sunday said the three travelled to southern Indian city of Bangalore recently and met exiled Tibetan activists, which became an issue with the Indian government