STATESMAN, APRIL 28, 1971
INDIAN STAFF AT DACCA INTERNED
FRESH DELHI MOVE TO EVACUATE DIPLOMATS
New Delhi. April 27 – In its latest move to further worsen India-Pakistan relations, the military junta in Islamabad has practically interned the personnel of the Indian Deputy High Commission in Dacca, including the Head of the mission, Mr. K. C. Sen Gupta, after the mission’s closure yesterday, report UNI and PTI.
The Government of India has taken up the matter strongly with the administration in Islamabad. It is understood to have pointed out to the Islamabad regime that the internment is contrary to the assurance given to it earlier and is in violation of the Vienna Convention.
A strong protest Note was personally delivered to the Pakistani High Commissioner here Mr. Sajjad Haider, by Mr. A. K. Ray, joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs in charge of Pakistan desk, at the letter’s office.
At tonight’s meeting, Mr. Ray put up to the Pakistan High Commissioners some new and concrete proposals for the prompt evacuation of Indian personnel from Dacca. The new proposals were made as they were considered easier to implement, official sources said.
Mr. Ray asked Mr. Haider to obtain a reply to these proposals from his Government to early as possible. Officials here hoped to get a reply from Pakistan within 36 hours.
Observer here feel that the Government of India will be forced to impose similar restrictions on the personnel of the Pakistani Deputy High Commission in Calcutta if the internment of the Indians in Dacca is not lifted immediately.
The internment is probably in retaliation to New Delhi’s action in barring the exit of Pakistani personnel in India without prior permission from the Government. The steps followed Pakistan’s refusal to allow Mrs. Sen Gupta and a diplomatic courier of Indian High Commission to leave Karachi for New Delhi.
An External Affairs Ministry spokesman here said the Government had learnt with regret and concern that immediately after the closure of its mission in Dacca well before the stipulated time yesterday, the Deputy High Commissioner, his officers and staff were practically interned in their residence.
Meanwhile a Foreign Office spokesman in Islamabad today described as “totally false” India’s charge that Mrs. Sen Gupta, was maltreated.
Radio Pakistan quoted the spokesman as saying that Mrs. Sen Gupta could not leave Karachi for New Delhi on April 21 because of “mistaken identity” at Karachi airport. But, the matter was sorted out within a half hour, the spokesman said.