US citizen missing; embassy officials meet police

Mathura, Sept 27: Officials from the US embassy arrived here today from New Delhi to get information about a missing American citizen, who had come to India ten years ago.

Derek Scott Clinton, who arrived in India in March, 2003 on a visa valid for ten years, continues to remain untraceable despite a search going on for him from July last year.

Following a complaint registered by Clinton's family in the United States, US embassy officials today met senior police officer Gulab Singh in Mathura and exchanged information regarding Clinton's disappearance.

An inquiry at the local level had been started in July last year as expiration date of Clinton's visa was nearing.

"It is mandatory for any foreigner to register himself for the extension of visa before its expiry," said Munnalal Goad, an official of the police's Local Intelligence Unit.

Police suspect that Clinton either may have become a hermit or might have been killed in a mishap or due to some protracted illness.

A survey of American visitors who died in mysterious circumstances in Mathura in the last ten years is already underway in the district, police said.

PTI