India has said US law should take its course in the case of two Hyderabad nationals Mohd Jawed Azmath and Ayub Ali Khan held by the American authorities as material witnesses in connection with World Trade Centre bombing on September 11.
Giving the first reaction of New Delhi on the duo being held by New York Police department on immigration rules violations, External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply that "Government was of the view that due process of law of the United States should be allowed to have its course in the case".
As to queries on the number of Indians killed in the attacks in the US, he said 107 persons of Indian origin were missing and presumed dead in the attacks in New York. He said most of these people worked as professionals in corporate and financial companies. Singh said another 77 people of Indian origin had been admitted to local hospitals and discharged after treatment.
He said in the aftermath of the attacks, a number of incidents of harassment against Sikhs had been reported leading to one Balbir Singh of Arizone being killed and acts of vandalism reported against Indians in New Jersey, Ohio and California. The minister said the matter had been taken up at the highest level by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during his recent visit to US with President George Bush himself assuring to do his utmost to prevent such attacks. Bureau Report