India seeks report on its citizens detained in China

New Delhi, Jan 13 (ANI): Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao has said India has sought a report from its embassy on its citizens detained by Chinese authorities.

Talking to reporters here on Tuesday, Rao said: "I am aware that some Indians have been taken into custody by the Chinese authorities in Shenzhen. I have asked our ambassador in Beijing for a factual report on this matter. He is in touch with our Consulate General in Guagzhou, which covers Shenzhen. And, we are awaiting full facts from Ambassador Jaishankar in Beijing."

Chinese Customs officials on Tuesday detained 21 Indians on charges of smuggling diamonds from Hong Kong into Shenzen in mainland China.

Rao further said New Delhi is concerned over a reported Australian government statement that Indians are more troubled in India than in Australia.

"We take all these reports very seriously, given the fact that there have been growing incidents of attacks against persons belonging to Indian community in Australia. I am sure that the officers concerned in the ministry would have got immediately in touch with our High Commissioner in Australia. We will await the full facts," she added.

Terming the unabated attacks on Indians in Australia as a cause of great concern, Rao said the confidence of the Indian community about living in Australia is shaken and there was a need to restore it.

"Obviously the climate of confidence that the Indian community has about living in Australia is shaken by all these and we need to restore that confidence... We will be in touch with the Australian government continuously on this," Rao added. (ANI)