Krishna denounces pat-down search of Shankar unequivocally

Terming as "unacceptable" the treatment meted out to Indian Ambassador to the US, Meera Shankar -- she was subjected to a 'pat-down' search at an airport in the US --, External Affairs Minister, S M Krishna today said the matter will be taken up with the American government.

Terming as "unacceptable" the treatment meted out to Indian Ambassador to the US, Meera Shankar -- she was subjected to a 'pat-down' search at an airport in the US --, External Affairs Minister, S M Krishna on Thursday said the matter will be taken up with the American government. Noting that there are well established conventions and practices as to how members of the diplomatic community should be treated, Krishna said such an incident has taken place for the second time in the last three months.

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"This is unacceptable to India and we are going to take it up with the US government and I hope things could be resolved so that such unpleasant incidents do not recur," the minister told reporters. When asked if a report has been sought from the US, he said, "There are various procedures through which we take it up with the US government."

Shankar was pulled from an airport security line on December 4 and patted down by an American security agent in Mississippi despite being told of her diplomatic status. The incident took place at the Jackson-Evers International Airport where sari clad Shankar was about to board a flight to Baltimore after attending the Mississippi State University's programme. Shankar presented her diplomatic papers to officers and was escorted by a Mississippi Development Authority representative and an airport security officer, but witnesses
said she was subjected to the hands-on search.