The Hindu : Front Page : India, Portugal sign extradition treaty

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 12, 2007
ePaper

Front Page

Front Page

India, Portugal sign extradition treaty

FIGHTING TERROR: Portugal President Anibal Cavaco Silva and his wife, Maria Silva, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Thursday. The two countries took a firm step against terrorism and crime by signing an extradition treaty. - PHOTO: V.V. KRISHNAN

New Delhi: Indian criminals and terrorists will no longer find it easy to take shelter in Portugal with the two countries on Thursday signing an extradition treaty.

The treaty, inked a year after Abu Salem was extradited home in connection with 1993 Mumbai blasts, provides for the prosecution of fugitive criminals and terrorists and handing over of such people to the host country.

The pact was signed after talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and visiting Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva here.

Seizure of property

It also provides for action for suppression of crimes, including terrorists, official sources said.

A provision for seizure of property of criminals and terrorists is also included in the treaty. India is understood to have given an undertaking that the extradited people will not be awarded death penalty, facilitating the signing of the agreement, as it is believed to have been the main condition of Portugal.

Salem was arrested in Lisbon in 2002 along with his friend Monica Bedi for allegedly possessing forged documents.

India immediately approached the Portuguese Government seeking his extradition, pointing out that he was wanted for the 1993 serial bomb blasts in Mumbai.

Legal procedures

But the process to get him back was difficult in the absence of an extradition treaty and the two were handed over to India last year after protracted legal procedures. — PTI

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page