Wednesday, May 11 2005 10:08 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dubai: Strongly denying media reports alleging import of children from India to work as camel jockeys in the UAE, Indian officials said the country's name was being "unnecessarily and unfairly tarnished" on this issue.

"Some reports claiming that India is an offender or indulges in trafficking in camel jockeys to the UAE are not true. We strongly deny any such imputations and any such allegations," said an Indian official, reacting to reports, which had alleged that India was one of the seven countries from Asia and Africa that exported child camel jockeys.

"Neither the Consulate General in Dubai nor the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi have been informed of any Indian children coming as camel jockeys to the UAE in the last few years," the official said.

"One newspaper even lists the number of child jockeys from various countries at rehabilitation centres in the UAE. There is not a single Indian listed in that report, it is all the more surprising that India's name is being unnecessarily and unfairly tarnished in this regard," he said.

Since 1998, all minor Indian nationals are required to travel on separate passports abroad, so any rule making it obligatory for Indian children to travel on separate passports will have no impact on the Indian expatriate community or Indians in general.

Major-General Saif Al Shaafar, Under-secretary at the Ministry of interior was quoted as saying on Monday (May 9, 2005) that Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sudan, Mauritana, Eritrea, Somalia and India were the main culprits who exported child jockeys to the UAE.