New mechanism formed to solve 'mistaken' detention of Indians in UAE

Abu Dhabi - Indians, who are mistakenly detained by the United Arab Emirates authorities will now be asked to immediately report the matter to the Indian embassy to get prompt relief, according to a new mechanism developed by both countries.

M.K. Lokesh, India's Ambassador to the UAE, pointed out that sometimes some Indian citizens are detained or even arrested for having the similar name of the accused in criminal cases in the UAE.

The new mechanism would help the embassy to take up such complaints with the UAE authorities and sort them out immediately, he said.

The Gulf News quoted Lokesh, as saying that 'the Consular Working Group constituted last month between both the countries conducted its first meeting in New Delhi and made a mechanism to have regular interaction between officials to sort out consular and other issues.'

"The group consists of officials from important ministries such as the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs etc [of both countries] is helping to solve the issues of citizens of both countries including the detention on mistaken identity," he added.

According to the report, the Indian embassy conducted the Open House yesterday in Abu Dhabi after a long interval.

Indian citizens were able to take up their grievances with the ambassador directly, but only four residents came up with the complaints.