China seeks consular access to nationals arrested by India

NEW DELHI: China has sought consular access to three of its nationals, arrested recently near the Indo-Nepal border without valid travel documents.

The Chinese Embassy officials met External Affairs Ministry's China division officials and sought access to the arrested persons, sources said.

The Chinese nationals, including a woman, were arrested near the Indo-Nepal border for allegedly sneaking into Indian territory and taking pictures of vital installations, according to Indian paramilitary personnel.

The three, identified as Liao Xing, Yu Dangli and Yang Liu, were arrested by Shashastra Seema Bal (SSB) near Rupedhiya border in Uttar Pradesh on January 17 when they were taking pictures of some important installations. They were booked for illegally entering the country and under the Passport Act.

While China has asked it to "properly handle" the arrest of its three nationals, India has responded saying that the country has a sound and transparent legal framework to handle all these issues.

Noting that the matter was within the competence of the security agencies, government sources said, "We have well-established procedures and a legal framework -- a sound transparent legal framework -- to look into all these issues.

"... It is for our security agencies to see what is to be done," sources said when asked if they will be deported.

Insisting that they were "tourists" and not spies, the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing had said, "In recent days three Chinese tourists crossed over to Indian border by mistake along the India-Nepal border. They were detained by Indian police.

"The Chinese Embassy in India is in touch with the Indian police and urge the Indian side to properly handle the issue," the Chinese office had said.