NEW DELHI: Stepping up pressure on Australia over Mohd Haneef issue, India summoned its High Commissioner here to convey its concern and emphasize that the doctor from Bangalore be treated in a fair manner.

High Commissioner John McCarthy was summoned by Biren Nanda, Joint Secretary (South) in the External Affairs Ministry, to convey India's view, a day after sending a similar message to the Mission here. Nanda told McCarthy that India was concerned over the circumstances in which 27-year-old Haneef is and wanted Canberra to treat him in a "fair" manner, MEA sources said.

The envoy was summoned a day after Australian government invoked immigration laws to retain Haneef in detention after a court granted him bail in failed UK terror attack case. Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews said in Melbourne Haneef would be deported from the country after legal proceedings are over and would remain in detention pending trial. The Ministry of External Affairs also conveyed to the Australian High Commission its concern over Haneef issue and asked Canberra to treat him "fairly and justly under Australian law".

The Indian High Commission in Canberra is helping Haneef's family in arranging legal assistance. Haneef, detained in Brisbane on July 2 in connection with two failed terror plots of the UK, was charged with "recklessly" providing support to a terrorist organization by giving mobile phone SIM card to British suspects Sabeel and Kafeel Ahmed in July 2006. Brisbane Magistrate Jacqui Payne granted him bail subject to a few conditions, saying the prosecution had not alleged any direct link between the Bangalore doctor and the botched car bombings in London and Glasgow.

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