Indian police have lodged a criminal case against three Israeli diplomats for allegedly abusing and injuring an airport immigration official, despite them enjoying diplomatic immunity, an Indian police officer said Monday.

A scuffle broke out late Saturday when the consular officials were clearing immigration at New Delhi airport to catch a flight to Kathmandu, the police deputy commissioner in charge of airport security said.

“They kept on arguing with the Indian official at the immigration assistance counter. Once their papers were cleared, they verbally abused the official and when he objected, they pounced on him,” M. I. Haider told AFP.

According to local media reports, the diplomats were angry over delays in clearing immigration.

The trio were not arrested over the incident since they have diplomatic immunity, but police have proceeded with a case against them. CCTV footage of the incident would be used as evidence, Haider added.

Police were obliged to proceed with their investigation despite the diplomats’ immunity. The case will be referred to India’s Foreign Ministry before any formal charges are made, Haider said.

A press officer at the Israeli Embassy in New Delhi said they were still looking into the matter and were unable to comment immediately.

The incident comes after a New York police officer was arrested last week at the same airport when bullets were found in his luggage, violating Indian firearms laws.

The police officer has since been released on bail and is currently in India awaiting a court date to resolve the case.

A U.S. lawmaker described the officer’s detention as a “politically motivated” in revenge for the arrest and strip-search of a female Indian diplomat in New York late last year for alleged visa fraud.

The incident sparked outrage in India and led to a bitter row between the two countries, which usually enjoy friendly relations.

India denied that the two arrests were linked.
 

Source : AFP