Indian Fencer located in Ireland

Patiala, Sep 30 (UNI) Rupaiya Devi from Manipur, who had gone with the Indian Fencing team to Ireland to participate in the Commonwealth Fencing Championship, and went missing from her hotel in Belfast, has been located by detective Sergeant Derek Martin in Ireland.

Talking to UNI, the secretary general of Fencing Federation of India, Mr. Arun Vij, said that he has received an e-mail from the secretary general of Ireland Fencing Federation, Mr Ian Sneddon that Rupaiya Devi has been contacted on phone in Ireland where she has stated that she ''left the hotel and left Northern Ireland by boat the same day.

''She has refused to disclose where is she now staying and has asked for asylum on the ground that ''it will not be safe for her to return to India.'' In the e-mail, Mr Sneddon, states ''Having made that request this becomes a matter for the Foreign and Commonwealth office rather than a police matter. Martin will now complete a report and pass it up to his superiors for them to decide what further action to take.'' UNI XC JS AB RN1903