Custody drama: Norway says 'no way' to fighting Indians parents

Mar 22, 2012 |

Agencies

New Delhi

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In a major setback to the Indian family caught in a custody row with Norway, the country's child services has refused to hand over the children back to parents.

Nowegian officials cited 'recent developments' around Anurup and Sagarika Bhattacharya as the reason, referring to reports of divorce and 'mental instability', and have called off a March 23 hearing in the case.

The past few days saw numerous flip flops from the parents of Abhigyan, 3, and Aishwarya, 1, with the father seeking divorce, then denying it and even accusing the mother of 'mental instability'.

The apparent infighting has even embarrassed India after the country offered help on an unprecedented scale.

India has put on hold the visit of its diplomats to Norway.

"Government has tried its best to bring the children home so that they have a future in the country. But a new situation has developed... we cannot interfere"," Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur told reporters outside Parliament House on Wednesday.

"The visit of a joint secretary (to Norway) has been postponed," she said, adding that the government will look into the situation before taking the next step. Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai also struck a circumspect note.

When asked to comment on the latest situation regarding the custody of the two NRI children, who were taken away from their parents on grounds of emotional disconnect, Mathai said: ''The situation is changing fast. The details are being ascertained in Norway."

Abhigyan, 3, and Aishwarya, 1, children of Anurup and Sagarika Bhattacharya, an NRI couple living in Norway's Stavanger, were taken under protective care by Barnevarne (Norwegian Child Welfare Services) last May on the ground that they were not looked after properly by their parents

Over a month ago, India and Norway struck an agreement under which the parents named Anurup's brother Arunabhash Bhattacharya as the primary caretaker of the two children. Arunabhash Bhattacharya is currently in Norway.

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