NRI kids’ uncle leaves for Norway to seek custody

The Kolkata-based uncle of two Indian children separated from their parents by Norwegian Child Welfare Services on the ground of “emotional disconnect” left for Norway on Wednesday to present his ‘statement of intent’ before the authorities to seek their custody.

The Kolkata-based uncle of two Indian children separated from their parents by Norwegian Child Welfare Services on the ground of “emotional disconnect” left for Norway on Wednesday to present his ‘statement of intent’ before the authorities to seek their custody.

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Government has once again taken up the issue with Norway after external affairs minister SM Krishna spoke to his Norwegian counterpart regarding the case last month, official spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said.

Secretary (west) in MEA, M Ganapathi, took up the matter with his Norwegian counterpart, who is currently in the country for an event, in a bid to seek expeditious resolution of the problem.

He also noted that at the request of MEA, minister for environment Jayanthi Natarajan also took up the issue with Norwegian minister of the environment and international development Erik Solheim here on Wednesday.

NRI couple Anurup and Sagarika Bhattacharya’s children Abhigyan (3) and Aishwarya (1) were taken under protective care by Barnevarne (Norwegian Child Welfare Services), which claimed emotional disconnect with the parents, and placed them in foster parental care according to the Norwegian court’s directive.