India to take up issue of ill-treatment of diplomat in China

Even as China promised an inquiry over the alleged ill treatment of an Indian diplomat there, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said the issue has been taken up seriously with that country.

Speaking to mediapersons in Bengaluru on Monday, Krishna said that the Indian mission is taking up the matter seriously with China. "It is a trade related matter and should have been resolved in court," he said.

S Balachandran, 46, an Indian diplomat based in Shanghai, had to be hospitalised after he fainted during a court hearing in Yiwu city two days back.

He was denied permission to leave the court even though he declared that he was a diabetic. He was in court to negotiate the release of two Indian businessmen who were held hostage by locals.

Meanwhile, Krishna refused to comment when asked about the return of former Pakistani president Parvez Musharraf, stating that "it is Pakistan's internal matter and I don't wish to speak about it."