Krishna terms pat-down search of Shankar unacceptable

New Delhi, Dec 9 (PTI) Terming as "unacceptable"
Indian Ambassador to the US Meera Shankar being subjected to a
'pat-down' search at an airport there, the country's External
Affairs Minister S M Krishna today said the matter will be
taken up with the American government.
Noting that there are well-established conventions
and practices as to how members of the diplomatic community
should be treated, Krishna said such an incident has taken
place for the second time in the last three months.
"This is unacceptable to India and we are going to
take it up with the US government and I hope things could be
resolved so that such unpleasant incidents do not recur," the
minister told reporters.
When asked if a report has been sought from the US, he
said, "There are various procedures through which we take it
up with government of the US."
Shankar was pulled from an airport security line on
December 4 and patted down by an American security agent in
Mississippi despite being told of her diplomatic status.
The incident took place at the Jackson-Evers
International Airport where sari-clad Shankar was about to
board a flight to Baltimore after attending the Mississippi
State University's programme.
Shankar presented her diplomatic papers to officers
and was escorted by a Mississippi Development Authority
representative and an airport security officer, but witnesses
said she was subjected to the hands-on search.
In the past, many prominent Indians, including
ministers, have faced some uncomfortable moments at US
airports.
In September, visiting Civil Aviation Minister Praful
Patel was quizzed by US immigration authorities at the O'Hare
airport in Chicago after his name and date of birth matched
with that of another Praful Patel, who is on America's
watch-list.