Washington: The US has dismissed as a hoax a video purportedly showing CCTV footage of senior Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade's strip search after her arrest, saying it is a 'dangerous and provocative fabrication'.
"This video, which we are aware of, is absolutely not footage of Ms Khobragade. We would call it a dangerous and provocative fabrication," State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf said on Friday.
The video circulated on social media shows officials purportedly strip searching a woman in custody. The woman is seen screaming during the search.
"This hoax video, which I think has appeared on some news websites without obviously confirming its authenticity, because it's not, we find it deeply troubling, irresponsible and reckless and condemn, again, this dangerous fabrication. I want to make very clear this is not video of her," Harf said.
US agrees with PM's remarks; says working to get ties on track
The 1999-batch IFS officer, who was Deputy Consul General in New York, was arrested last month for allegedly making false declarations in a visa application for her maid. She was released on a USD 250,000 bond.
The 39-year-old diplomat was strip searched and held with criminals, triggering a row between India and the US.
India retaliated by downgrading privileges of certain category of US diplomats among other steps last month. Harf said the State Department had spoken with the US Marshals Service about the video and officials had confirmed that it was not genuine.
"They confirm that the footage in question does not depict US marshal employees, obviously that the search methods depicted in the video are not US Marshals' policy. I haven't watched the video myself. But I want to be very clear in saying this is not how we do things here," she said.
Next: India asks US Embassy not to screen movies at American Centre
India asks US Embassy not to screen movies at American Centre
New Delhi: Piling further pressure, India has asked the US Embassy not to screen any movies at the American Centre without obtaining a licence and gave it a deadline of January 20 to do so.
The American Centre regularly screens movies for invited audiences apparently without a licence to do so. To stop this 'transgression', a notice has been sent by the government. This is yet another step by India in retaliation for the arrest and humiliation of its Deputy Consul General in New York Devyani Khobragade.
"To relentlessly put a stop to transgressions of US institutions in Delhi, Government has now brought the activities of the American Centre under the scanner," sources said.
In a "tersely-worded communication sent to the American Centre yesterday, a deadline of 20th January, 2013 has been given to the American Centre to comply with Govt of India laws and Delhi Govt regulations and obtain license for screening films", the sources said.
"Failure to comply with the directive would result in the American Centre having to cease screening films from 21 January", they added.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has yesterday termed the arrest of Khobragade as 'temporary aberrations' in Indo-US strategic relationship and said diplomacy should be given chance to resolve the issue.
Khobragade, the 39-year-old IFS officer, was arrested in New York on December 12 on charges of making false declarations in a visa application for her maid Sangeeta Richard and subjected to strip and cavity search, which had sparked outrage in India and resulted in government enforcing strict 'reciprocity' and withdrawing extra privileges.
India had downgraded the immunity of certain category of US diplomats and withdrew the immunity enjoyed by their family members. US consular officials in four consulates in India are being issued new ID cards specifying the limited immunity which will not protect them from serious offences. This is in line with the restricted immunity given to India's Consular officials in the US.
Families of American consular officials will no longer have diplomatic ID cards, an out of way privilege enjoyed by them in India. Families of Indian consular officials do not have any such privileges.
The US consular staff is now only permitted to import their requirements during the first six months on assuming office as is provided in the Vienna Convention for Consular Relations.
Previously, they were allowed to import their requirements over the three year period of tenure. However, India has stepped up security at the US Embassy and other American institutions here, deploying as many as 150 police personnel during a 24-hour period.
Allaying US concerns about security of their institutions after barricades outside the Embassy here were removed as a fallout of the arrest of senior Indian diplomat, official sources have said that at any given time 50 police personnel are deployed.
"As many 150 police personnel are being deployed during a 24-hour period in shifts at the US Embassy, School and American Centre in New Delhi.... Also, two police vehicles have been permanently stationed along various roads near the Embassy including Nyaya Marg," the sources had said.
Earlier, there were about 120 police personnel during a 24-hour period for the security of these institutions.
