New Delhi: Senior Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade, arrested in New York on charges of visa fraud, broke down many times after being subjected to “repeated” handcuffing, stripping, cavity searches and swabbing while being jailed with common criminals and drug edicts.
The 39-year-old deputy Consul General in New York, who was arrested and handcuffed in public while dropping her daughter to school on Thursday, in an email to her headquarters here said she stressed to arresting authorities that she had diplomatic immunity but was still subjected to repeated searches.
“I must admit that I broke down many times as the indignities of repeated handcuffing, stripping and cavity searches, swabbing, in a hold-up with common criminals and drug addicts were all being imposed upon me despite my incessant assertions of immunity,” the email said, according to a source privy to the information.
“I got the strength to regain composure and remain dignified thinking that I must represent all of my colleagues and my country with confidence and pride,” the email said. The source said, in the email, Khobragade called on the Indian government to ensure her safety and that of her children while also preserving the dignity of the country's diplomatic service which was “unquestionably under siege”. The arrest and the treatment meted out to the senior Indian diplomat has snow-balled into a major diplomatic row between the US and India.
