2 Indians to file criminal case against Chinese traders

Beijing, Feb 9: Two Indian traders who were illegally detained by local merchants at the Chinese trade hub Yiwu have decided to file a criminal case against 15 local suppliers for illegally detaining them.

"We have decided to file a criminal case against 15 local merchants for the illegal detention and torture inflicted on us," one of the traders Deepak Raheja told PTI today, a day after meeting External Affairs Minister SM Krishna.

Chinese government said criminal proceedings have been launched against five local traders for ill-treating them. The duo also filed an application in a Jinhua court challenging legality of the Yiwu court impounding their passports.

Raheja and Shayamsunder Agrawal met Krishna yesterday and briefed him their plight. Raheja said they told Krishna that they were keen to clear their name and leave China.

This was the first occasion when the duo stirred of Shanghai after they were rescued with the help of the Indian officials and brought to the eastern Chinese city in January.

The two assert that they were employees of a company called Euro Global Tading which bought USD 10 million RMB ($1.5 million) worth of supplies from Chinese traders based in Yiwu which is world’s largest commodities trading hub.

They were taken into custody by local traders after the Company's onwer Maheer Hussain Bazara, a Yemenese national vanished along with an Indian partner Feroze Khan.

"It is great the Minister met us. He gave us a patient hearing and expressed sympathy for our plight and promised all help," Raheja said.

After the meeting, Krishna, who returned India today, said: "I empathise with them regarding traumatic experience and raised it with Chinese counterparts. The Indian mission will provide all assistance to resolve the issue".

PTI