The Indian national, who was detained by Chinese authorities in Inner Mongolia as part of larger group of foreigners suspected of terror links for “watching objectionable material,” returned to India on Saturday. But his troubles are far from over, as the case registered against him and eight other foreign nationals has not been closed, and there is still little clarity on just why they were arrested.
Indian Embassy officials met with the man, identified as Rajiv Mohan Kulshreshta, on Friday, and he boarded an early morning flight from Beijing on Saturday. “Our purpose was to obtain diplomatic access, ensure the well-being of the person concerned and seek his release,” Indian Ambassador Ashok Kantha told The Hindu .
Diplomatic sources said that the case against him has not been closed, and a dialogue between Indian and Chinese authorities on Mr. Kulshreshtha’s “possible affiliations” would continue. However the mystery over why he was arrested in the first place hasn’t been cleared. According to a spokesperson for two of the men also arrested who was quoted by Reuters, Chinese officials could have mistaken a “documentary on Gengiz Khan” being viewed by the group as “propaganda material.”
MEA declines comment
Earlier, an official had been quoted as saying the group had been watching “terror films.”
Asked if the Indian government would take up the case of wrongful detention, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson declined to comment. “Our immediate concern was to bring him home safely, and that has been achieved,” the spokesperson, Vikas Swarup, said.
Mr. Kulshreshta had reportedly reached Inner Mongolia as part of a tour group on a 47-day trip to see China’s historical sites. On Tuesday, the Indian government was informed that he was among 20 individuals detained on unspecified charges. Mr. Kulshreshtha, a businessman who runs a garment factory in NOIDA, did not speak to the media after his arrival in Delhi. A team from The Hindu visited both his office and residence in a Delhi housing society and found them locked.
