This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.

Indian Embassy In China Seeks Consular Access To Its National Detained For 'Terror Links'

Indian Embassy In China Seeks Consular Access To Its National Detained For 'Terror Links'
An Indian national flag is flown next to the Chinese national emblem during a welcome ceremony for visiting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013. China and India signed a confidence-building accord Wednesday to cooperate on border defense following a standoff between armed forces of the two Asian giants in disputed Himalayan territory earlier this year. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
An Indian national flag is flown next to the Chinese national emblem during a welcome ceremony for visiting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013. China and India signed a confidence-building accord Wednesday to cooperate on border defense following a standoff between armed forces of the two Asian giants in disputed Himalayan territory earlier this year. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

The Indian government has requested the Chinese authorities for consular access to its national who was detained last Friday under alleged links to a "terror group". The Indian national is one of the 20 people who were detained in Inner Mongolia; the group was part of an African charity organisation "Gift of the Givers" and reportedly on a 47-day tour to discover ancient China.

While the Indian national, whose identity is being withheld by the government at the moment, has been detained till July 18, some other members of the group have been released by Chinese police. The Indian national, along with eight others of British and South African descent, are being held at the Ordos, Dongsheng detention centre in Inner Mongolia under Article 120 of the criminal law of China. They were allegedly watching propaganda videos of a banned group.

Though the detention took place on Friday, the Indian embassy in Beijing was informed about the Indian national's detention only on Wednesday through a diplomatic note. An official is expected to meet the man soon.

According to the charity group, the 20 members were arrested at Erdos Airport, Inner Mongolia, at 9.40 am local time and were given no reason. Their cellphones were immediately confiscated and they were not given access to their embassies or their families.

"They were detained without charge with no access to any communication nor to legal representation," read a statement from the charity. "It was only on Sunday, 48 hours later, when the tour operator realised that something was amiss and made the trip to Erdos, that the first information on the detained citizens came to light."

Contact HuffPost India

Close
This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.