Families of 21 diamond traders arrested request PM to intervene

The families of 21 Indian diamond traders in custody in Shenzhen, China since Januray 8, 2010, have met Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and urged him to intervene and assure their safe return. The traders were arrested on charges of alleged smuggling of diamonds from Hong Kong to China.

Prior to meeting the Prime Minister, representatives of relatives met Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee at Surat with a detailed memorandum on the matter. Mr. Mukherjee has assured help from the central government. This has been one of the several attempts made by the Indian diamond industry in the past, to seek support from the Indian government and Chinese authorities.

The delay in resolving the issue for such a long stretch of time despite numerous attempts to seek government intervention and the restrictions being placed on any direct communication with those arrested has irked the respective families, who now demand immediate attention of the Indian government.