21 July,2011 09:14 AM IST | | Mohit Sharma and Atul Krishan
Two Iranian refugees in the Delhi were held at the Taj Palace Hotel on Tuesday night where the US Secretary of State was staying during her two-day trip to India
US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton had a couple of uninvited guests at the Taj Palace Hotel in the Capital on Tuesday night. Two Iranian nationals were detained by Chanakyapuri police after they went to the Taj Palace Hotel on Tuesday to meet Clinton to make her aware of the atrocities their government was committing on them, IB sources told MiD DAY.
Dhaula Kuan, in New Delhi on Monday. Hillary Clinton Pic/Rajiv Tyagi
The duo, identified as Dawoud and Ali Yari, who stay in south Delhi's Malviya Nagar went with a memorandum to the hotel and entered the lobby where they were stopped by the VIP security officials provided by Delhi police. "When they were asked the reason for their unannounced visit, they told cops that they have come to submit a memorandum with Hillary Clinton against their government. However, the two were immediately detained and were handed over to local police for interrogation," sources said.
Iran calling: Taj Palace Hotel
Hillary, help!
The incident took place at around 9:30 pm on Tuesday. The duo was sitting in a caf ufffd inside Hotel Taj Palace. After having their beverage, they tried to enter the first ring of security of Clinton where a female security official intercepted them. They flashed a memorandum in their hands and demanded they be allowed to meet Hillary Clinton. Meanwhile, this incident came to the notice of US security officials who rushed to the spot and asked the Delhi police security personnel to hand over the two men to proper authorities and interrogate them.
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"They came to India a year ago. They have refugee permit to stay in India for 2012-2013. They told cops that they are forced to live in this condition because of their government back home. They have to live away from their parents who are in Iran," said a police official wishing anonymity. The two men wanted America to intervene and help them in this respect Sources also said that a team of Delhi police's special cell and intelligence bureau reached Chanakyapuri police station to interrogate them jointly.
Under scanner
"Their laptops were scrutinised properly by the intelligence bureau officials and their credentials were also verified," sources said. Sources said that they are residents of Malviya Nagar area and work in Saket's Don Bosco Network accredited by UN.
Intelligence Bureau officials said that they are leaving no stone unturned in making sure that there is nothing wrong as it was very strange on the part of the two to go to Taj Palace and try to meet Hillary Clinton.
"They told the cops that they are refugees and have a detailed account of problems they are facing by their own nation," IB sources said.
Meanwhile, a New Delhi district police's senior officer said that though nothing has come out in their interrogation they were in police custody till Wednesday evening. According to police sources, they were released later, but security agencies are likely to keep a tab on them. "We gave it over to the intelligence agencies and special cell to carry forward interrogations," the officer said.
Mum's the word
"I do not want to share such information with the media," said Special CP (security) Vimla Mehra, when asked to comment on the issue. "I came to know about such an incident yesterday, but nothing untoward has come to light as yet. They would be put under joint interrogation by security agencies," said Additional DCP, New Delhi district, Seju P Kuruvilla. Speaking to MiD DAY, Additional Commissioner of police, Security, Jaspal Singh confirmed the incident.
"Yes two Iranian nationals were caught from the premises of Hotel Taj Palace. They were handed over to the local police for interrogation," said Jaspal Singh. However, the additional commissioner said that it wasn't a serious matter.
"Anybody can come to hotel to have a cup of tea and so is the case with the duo," said Singh. Clinton arrived in India on July 18 on a two-day trip. She spent the first day in the Capital and visited Chennai yesterday.u00a0u00a0
Safe than sorry?
Delhi Police provided foolproof security to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton seeing the recent Mumbai blasts. A highly placed police source said that police personnel were deployed outside the Hotel Taj Place in multiple rings of security. "The police personnel were equipped with sophisticated weapons to deal with any untoward incident. Security of US leaders has always been a big concern to the police. Seeing the Mumbai blast we are more vigilant. The cops didn't want that media should report even a single case of security breach. But two Irani nationals tried to meet Clinton to hand her over an agenda," said a senior police official.u00a0Hillary Clinton arrived in India on July 18 for a three-day visit. She is staying in Hotel Taj Place.
