Two Indian traders freed after being held by locals in China

[News_Editor]

Two Indian traders freed after being held by locals in China

2012-01-05 21:16:43 GMT+7 (ICT)

NEW DELHI (BNO NEWS) -- Two Indian traders, who were earlier taken captive by locals at a trading hub in China, were released on Wednesday, local media reported on Thursday.

After talks with Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yan in New Delhi, India's external affairs minister SM Krishna said the two traders were escorted safely to the consulate in Shanghai. Zhang assured that Beijing was paying "serious attention" to the safety of Deepak Raheja and Shyam Sunder Agarwal, the Hindustan Times reported.

"The traders have been released and they are on their way to Shanghai under consular officers security. Raheja and Agarwal are out of Yiwu. Let's not blow this incident out of proportion," Krishna told reporters after the meeting.

The traders, who are involved in a civil litigation, were trapped in a hotel in Yiwu city, a trading hub near Shanghai. Locals alleged that the firm they worked with, and whose owner is absconding, owed them millions of dollars. The traders claimed in TV interviews that they were beaten up and tortured by some people.

"Our consular officers have met them. They will perhaps work out the details, but let us not forget that there is a civil litigation against them and we will have to take that into consideration," Krishna added.

Ambassador Zhang said the Chinese authorities were "working hard to resolve the issue". "I think it will be settled according to legal procedure and according to the rule of law," he said.

"This is an individual case triggered by economic disputes. China hopes India can treat this case with objectivity and fairness, and actively educate Indian merchants in China to behave according to the Chinese law, behave honestly and operate legitimately," Hong Lei, spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, said in a statement.

Chinese officials have said they would initiate criminal proceedings against five locals who held the traders hostage.

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