China anti-prostitution raid: One more Indian held –

One more Indian trader was detained in China on charges of indulging in prostitution in addition to the four already held in Shanghai for the offence.

An Indian trader, based in Yiwu, which housed China’s biggest wholesale commodity market was arrested in an anti-prostitution raid by the local police during the last weekend, Indian officials said.

The Indian Consulate in Shanghai was informed about the detention of the trader today.

Already four Indian businessmen, part of a 100 member Indian delegation attending a commercial fair were arrested in Shanghai three days ago in a similar raid.

They are still in detention and the Indian officials were expected to meet them after May 3 as China is shut down for the May Day holidays.

All the five were expected to be deported at the end their detention in the coming days.

Indian officials say that such cases are becoming more regular as the trade picked up between the two countries. Over a hundred Indian traders stayed put in Yiwu sourcing large number of commodities for Indian markets.

Last year alone over USD two billion worth of goods were reported to have been sourced from there to India.

However Yiwu was also acquired the notoriety for ruthless trade practices as two Indians, Shyam Sunder Agrawal and Deepak Raheja, stated to be employees of a trading company were kidnapped and held in illegal custody for about fortnight after their company failed to make payments for the goods purchased.

They were released after the intervention of the Indian Consulate in Shanghai and are currently facing a court case.

Following the case the Indian Embassy here issued strong advisory highlighting problems in conducting business at Yiwu.

Earlier 13 Indian diamond merchants were released and 10 others were convicted for smuggling.

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