US assures 'fair' treatment to Indian students of sham varsity

By Arun Kumar

Washington, (IANS) The US has assured that hundreds of Indian students affected by the closure of a sham US university on charges of visa fraud would be given "fair and appropriate" treatment.

The US assurance came in a letter this week by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Indian Ambassador to the US Meera Shankar.

The Feb 22 letter said the State Department is following the case of the Indian students of the Tri Valley University (TVU) closely and working with the Department of Homeland Security and the Indian government to ensure fair and appropriate treatment to the students.

"Please be assured that their interests and the interest of all Indian students in the United States would be carefully considered," Clinton wrote, according to Shankar.

"Clinton emphasised that the US is proud to host over 100,000 Indian students in the United States and hopes to increase the numbers in the years ahead," she told reporters.

Shankar had conveyed India's concerns on the issue to Clinton with details of Indian students after a telephonic conversation between Clinton and External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna early this month.

Nearly 1,500 Indian students face the prospect of deportation unless they can secure admission to another school to maintain their visa status.

As many as 18 Indian students were radio tagged to prevent their fleeing. Anklet monitors of 11 of the students have since been removed following the intervention of the Indian consulate in San Francisco.