Two Indian traders stranded in China sent home

Two Indian traders, who were held-up in China for several months over allegations of non-payment of dues to Chinese businessmen, have been sent back to India after intense diplomatic efforts.

The two -- Shyam Sunder Agarwal and Deepak Raheja -- were sent back to India two weeks ago.

Their return to India was announced by External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid in New Delhi Thursday night after his talks with his counterpart Wang Yi.

They were facing several cases of non-payment of dues to the traders at the Chinese trade hub of Yiwu.

Both Agarwal and Raheja denied the allegations, saying that they were only employees of a trading firm run by a Yemeni national who reportedly fled without paying dues.

The two were initially kidnapped by local traders. Later they were rescued at the intervention of India.

The two were under a travel ban, but as the cases prolonged against them they were allowed to go to India alternatively on the ground that they return back.

The two traders shifted their residence from Shanghai to Guangzhou to do some odd jobs but now they were allowed to permanently return to India.

They also paid some amount to meet the demands of the local traders.

Image: Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid shakes hands with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing on Thursday

Photograph: Reuters