Click to play videoNew Delhi: China has detained 21 Indian diamond merchants accusing them of being part of a smuggling gang.
All the 21 Indian traders were detained on January 8 in the Chinese city of Shenzen.
The news of Indian diamond merchants being detained was first reported on some Chinese news websites alerting the families of some of the traders in Surat.
"We have got information from the net that some Surat diamond traders have been arrested in China. We are sure our people will not indulge in smuggling. We are in touch with the government and the least we expect is that they should get legal aid," said Surat Diamond Association President Rohit Mehta.
Chinese police say the Indians along with at least 50 people arrested are a part of a massive smuggling ring. Police say they had been used as carriers to smuggle in diamonds from Hong Kong.
But Indian External Affairs Ministry officials rejected reports the arrest was part of diplomatic tit for tat between India and China.
"We have asked for a full report. We are waiting for full details on the arrest of Indians in China," said Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao
Gujarat's diamond industry accounts for a majority of all the diamonds that are cut and polished anywhere in the world and is clearly worried.
"The Chinese government has in the past given a lot of incentives to diamond traders. I think there is some kind of misunderstanding. They possibly cannot be involved in smuggling," claimed Gujarat Hira Bourse Secretary Pravin Nanavati.
More details are expected when Indian diplomats meet the detained traders on Wednesday.
(With inputs from Kinnari Patel and Geetika Pokriyal)
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