US expresses regret over frisking of Indian envoy

“We obviously are concerned about it. We will be looking into it and trying to determine both what happened and what we could do to prevent such incidents in the future,” Clinton told reporters at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department in joint press availability with her Nigerian counterpart.

According to the Indian Embassy here,the State Department has reached out to Shankar and regretted about the incident.

“The US State Department has reached out to the Ambassador and has regretted what all had happened. The Embassy is in touch with the State Department on this issue,” Indian Embassy spokesman Virander Paul said.

Paul confirmed that the Ambassador was subjected to the pat down security check last week at the Jackson-Evers International Airport.

Earlier,State Department spokesman P J Crowley said: “It is our understanding the (Indian) Ambassador was pulled out for secondary screening,and DHS (Department of Homeland Security) has indicated they’re prepared to talk about this.”

Crowley said there are guidelines that have been published on diplomats.

“They are subject to basic security. So everyone at the airport goes through a basic screening,” he said,adding from a TSA standpoint they followed their normal procedures.

“It is the responsibility of the Transportation Security Administration to assess each passenger and then work each passenger through security based on what they see,” he said,adding that as to the rationale that TSA used for this,he will let them explain it.

Asked about the incident involving Shankar,US Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said she had looked into the matter and concluded that it was by the book.

It was a pat-down that followed our procedures,and I think it was appropriate under the circumstances,Napolitano told reporters.

She said there are protocols in which if US authorities are notified before a passenger with special credentials gets to an airport,they can try to expedite their security check.

In this particular instance,that protocol had not been utilized,she said. I think what was done by the… officer was done appropriately and by the book.

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna has called the pat-down of Shankar as “unacceptable” and said the matter would be taken up with the American government.

Meanwhile,the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) the federal agency responsible for the security of all the American airports said the review of the December 4 incident at the Jackson-Evers International Airport showed that its officials did nothing wrong and all procedures were followed.

“After a review of this passenger’s screening experience,we determined that the TSA officers in Jackson followed proper standard procedure,” the TSA said in a statement today.

Defending its official’s decision to go for the pat down of the Indian Ambassador,the TSA said it strives to provide thorough and respectful screening while ensuring that it effectively fulfils its security mission for all passengers.

“In 2007,TSA adjusted its security procedures to include provisions for ‘bulky’ clothing. Removal of bulky clothing is recommended but the rules accommodate those with religious,medical,or other reasons for which the passenger wishes not to remove the item,” the TSA said.

From the statement,it was not clear if sari a traditional draped Indian dress could be considered as bulky.

“Transportation Security Officers have several options for screening passengers who choose not to remove bulky clothing. If the officer cannot reasonably determine that the clothing is free of a threat item,individuals will be referred for additional screening,” the TSA said.

“Officers must use their professional discretion to determine if a particular item of clothing could hide a threat object. Passengers may request that a pat down be conducted in private,” said the TSA statement.

Clinton told reporters that she came to know about the incident only on Thursday,even though she had a chance to meet the Indian Ambassador on Tuesday along with the Special Envoy of the Indian Prime Minister S K Lambah.

“Although I was not until just recently aware of the incident,we obviously are concerned about it,” she said in response to a question.

“I met with the Indian ambassador and other representatives of the Indian government on Tuesday,” Clinton said referring to her meeting with Lambah and Shankar.

“It was not raised with me or raised directly with the department,but certainly we will be looking into it and not only responding to the Indian foreign minister but also reviewing the policies,” Clinton said.