Indian traders trapped in China at wit’s end
The situation of two Indian traders trapped in China since January has gone from bad to worse, while negotiations drag on between the Indian and Chinese governments.
Besides facing financial and family trouble, they have also been told the Indian consulate can do nothing more for them, leaving them clueless on their next step.
Mumbai’s Shyamsunder Agrawal and Hyderabad’s Deepak Raheja were held captive by a group of Chinese traders for nearly a month before being rescued. Since then, they have been living at a Shanghai hotel for formalities to be completed so that they can go home. “Last week, we were clearly told nothing more could be done for us till the court case comes to an end. We have no idea how long this will take, and don’t know what to do if the Chinese court’s verdict goes against us. The consulate’s stand is really disappointing,” Mr Agrawal told this newspaper on the telephone from China.
Things are no better back home for either of them. Mr Raheja’s aged father passed away on July 14; he tried to get permission to come to India for the funeral, but failed. Mr Agrawal’s wife Jyoti, a heart patient who had surgery a year and a half ago, started getting chest pains again but has no money for treatment.
“I am seriously contemplating suicide if that is the only thing that will bring my husband home,” Ms Agrawal said.
Mr Raheja and Mr Agrawal also have no money. “We eat once in two days, and that too when a restaurant near our hotel takes mercy on us and give us a few scraps to eat,” Mr Agrawal said.
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