Indian trader abducted, freed in China

Days after India issued a second advisory for its citizens doing business in eastern China’s trade hub of Yiwu, police have arrested a 30-year-old Chinese woman for kidnapping an Indian over a trade dispute.

While Danish Qureshi, a purchaser working for an Indian businessman, was freed two days ago and flew out of China on Thursday, the latest incident reiterates that Indian businessmen who default on payments are increasingly being illegally targeted by local traders.

Qureshi was abducted by suspect Wang and her boyfriend a week ago after his company defaulted on service fees of 50000 Yuan ($7900) and payments for purchased goods worth 400000 Yuan (over $64000).

Qureshi works for a businessman, Faisal, who lives in India.

“In late 2009, Faisal hired Wang and one of her classmates to purchase goods in Yiwu, the world's largest wholesale market for small consumer goods. As of August 2011, Faisal had defaulted on service fees of 50,000 Yuan (about 7,900 U.S. dollars) and payments for goods valued at 400,000 yuan, which Wang and her classmate paid for with their own savings,” state-run Xinhua news agency quoted government officials as having said.

Wang's several attempts to contact Faisal via e-mail and phone went unanswered. Subsequently, on March 9, she learned that Qureshi was in Yiwu. She went to him for help in obtaining the money owed to her by Faisal, but received no money.

“Early Monday morning, Wang and her boyfriend held Qureshi in Wang's apartment and called Faisal about the debt,” the Xinhua report said.

On Wednesday afternoon, police freed Qureshi from his illegal detention, according to the press office of the Yiwu municipal government.

Qureshi was in good health, and he left the public security department after being questioned by police. There was no physical confrontation during the illegal detention, according to the press office of Yiwu.

“Freedom of movement could be curtailed; if involved in a court dispute, they may need to stay on for extended periods of time, hence requiring substantial funds for boarding and lodging,” the new advisory said in continuation of the earlier one,” Monday’s new advisory to Indian businessmen said.