Even as India conveyed its displeasure over the arrest of 270 IT professionals in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia has said the arrests were part of an ongoing exercise to check illegal migrants and was not intended against Indians.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Commerce and Industry Minister Arun Jaitley, Malaysian Minister for Entrepreneur Development Dato Seri Mohammed Nazri Abdul Aziz said his government would look into alleged ill treatment of those who were arrested.
"We have expressed our anguish and concern over the incident. A large number of Indian nationals with valid visas and travel documents were detained and ill treated," Commerce and Industry Minister Arun Jaitley said after his meeting with the Malaysian minister.
New Delhi's strong concerns were also conveyed by Textiles Minister Kashiram Rana during a separate meeting.
"The alleged ill treatment is not acceptable to us. If true, we will take action against those concerned," Aziz said.
"The drive is not directed against Indians. We have been having an ongoing campaign against illegal immigrants and hiccups do happen in such operations," he added.
Both Aziz and Jaitley, however, said the bilateral relations between the two countries should not be affected by the incident.
Meanwhile, an external affairs ministry spokesperson said of the 270 Indian nationals, 195 were taken to the police station.
The high-level intervention could start only late in the afternoon when they were allowed consular access.
He said 185 of them were released by Sunday evening and another five yesterday and one today. This clearly showed that they had not contravened any law.
Asked why such treatment was meted out, the spokesman said there had been no satisfactory answer as yet from Kuala Lumpur.
Terming the action as 'high-handed and uncalled for,' he said, "Things can't go back to business as usual unless we have a proper explanation."
The spokesman said India's High Commissioner in Kuala Lumpur, Veena Sikri was in close touch with Malaysian authorities and had strongly taken up the issue with the foreign and home ministries.
"We are in constant touch with the authorities here and is expecting a reply from them in the next 24 hours," said Sikri.
She also said all the detained people had valid permits to stay and work in Malaysia and four of the arrested Indians were still in custody.
"Four people are still in custody. We are looking into their cases and they should be released soon," Sikri said.
Asked whether India would seek an apology from the Malaysian government, the spokesperson said the issue had been taken up both here and in Kuala Lumpur.