(a) whether F.B.I. had taken Indian trainee pilots in their custody for investigation in connection with terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001;
(b) if so, the number of such trainees taken into custody and the number of days they were kept in the custody;
(c) whether any case has been lodged against them; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS ( SHRI JASWANT SINGH)
(a) Government is not aware of Indian trainee pilots having been taken into F.B.I. custody in connection with terrorist attacks on September 11.
However, Government has seen a statement by the U.S. Attorney General that 548 individuals have been charged with immigration violations. While the names of those arrested have not been released due to their concern about violation of privacy rights, details released reveal that 20 persons were born in India among those 548.
(b), (c), (d) Do not arise.