New Delhi, May 08: Stung by reports of maltreatment
of
Indian nationals working under the US-led coalition authority
in Iraq, government today said it has taken a number of steps
including tightening emigration control and asked its missions
in Baghdad, Amman and Kuwait to give assistance to Indians in
the war-ravaged country wanting to return home.
It also made it clear that no Indian police officer has
been sent to Iraq for training of Iraqi police nor was there
any concrete proposal under its consideration for sending such
officers there or anywhere else for this purpose.
Discounting a media report about India deputing police
officers to Iraq, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej
Sarna said "Some preliminary and informal" exercise was
undertaken earlier this year to explore the possibility of
such a training programme in India or elsewhere outside Iraq.
He said the government's immediate priority was to ensure
the safety and security of Indian nationals including
ex-servicemen who have been taken to Iraq by recruiting agents
on false assurances in contravention of the emigration
requirements.
Bureau Report
