Status Quo Prevails, No New Development in Doklam: MEA

MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar on Indian prisoner Hamid Ansari, attack on the Swiss couple and more.

MEA spokesperson addresses concerns of over 39 missing Indians in Mosul,  the attack on the Swiss couple, Indian prisoner Hamid Ansari, and the status quo at Doklam. (Photo: ANI)

In a press conference on Friday, 27 October, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Raveesh Kumar, maintained that “status quo prevails in Doklam”. He dismissed the recent reports of a Chinese built-up around the site in Bhutan, where Indian and Chinese troops were earlier involved in over a month long standoff.

“There has been no new developments at face-off site and vicinity since 28 August disengagement between the two countries,” Raveesh Kumar said.

We Wish the Swiss Couple a Speedy Recovery

In response to the attack on the Swiss couple at Fatehpur Sikri on 22 October, he said “in such cases, immediate relief should be provided to the victims, and we wish them a speedy recovery. The ministry believes in quick redressal of the issue, and it’s in touch with the Swiss embassy”.

Quentin Jeremy Cleric and Marie Droz, both 24-year-olds, were thrashed with sticks and stones, allegedly by a group of locals who wanted to get ‘close’ to Droz.

Also read: Swiss Couple Attack: Five Minor Boys Arrested in Fatehpur Sikri

The MEA spokesperson also gave an update on Indian prisoner Hamid Ansari in Pakistan. Kumar said that the ministry is in touch with the authorities.

In the briefing, Kumar also said that MoS External Affairs General VK Singh visited Mosul in Iraq on 26 October, to get an update on the 39 missing Indians. He said that the ministry also sought DNA samples from the kin.