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India rushes senior officer to Paris to investigate maid assault case

India is rushing a senior official of the External Affairs Ministry to Paris tonight to inquire into the alleged assault on an Indian maid by a diplomat which is brewing into a major diplomatic row between the two countries.

Praveen Goel, additional secretary (administration), will go to Paris to ascertain the facts of the case and to report to the Indian Government.

''The matter is under investigation and any speculation at this stage is unfair and uncalled for,'' a spokesman of the ministry told a briefing in New Delhi today.

''The Government of India is investigating to ascertain all facts of the case and is in touch with the French Government and the Indian embassy in Paris,'' he said.

Different versions have been given by the Indian embassy and the French media regarding the alleged assault on 19-year-old Lalita Oraon who is alleged to have been physically harassed by Amrit Logonb, serving as first secretary in the commercial section of the Indian mission.

The girl is under the custody of French police and the Indian mission had lodged a protest with the French government urging them to hand her over to them.

UNI

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