LISBON: Learning from the past experience of having to struggle to seek the deportation of underworld don Abu Salem and to prevent any anti-national element from using the Portugal territory for clandestine activities, India and Portugal are all set to ink a Extradition Treaty during the visit of Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva to India beginning January 11.

Death term taboo

Highly-placed sources informed that a high-level delegation from the Ministry of Justice, Portugal, has already left for India to tie up loose ends in the proposed treaty as Lisbon is understood to have raised strong objections over the issue of award of death penalty to those extradited from that country and also on the issue of award of life imprisonment. Both award of death penalty and life imprisonment are not applicable in Portugal as the maximum sentence awarded for any crime is not more than 25 years.

Mutual benefit

"The delegation has gone to India to tie up the loose ends and put the fine-print in place. These two issues are to be taken up and sorted out with the Indian Government so that the treaty is signed during the Presidential visit. The President is keen that this issue should be sorted out for the mutual benefit of both the countries," sources remarked. Officials said that with Portugal having relaxed immigration laws, it is considered as the "soft belly" of the European Union and could be used for such anti-national elements to carry out their nefarious activities against India.

Little obstacles

The signing of the extradition treaty is being seen as an attempt to send a signal and also ensure that such elements do not infiltrate into Portugal. "The Abu Salem experience has made us wise. We are now looking at clinching this treaty by sorting out little obstacles. We are hopeful that we will be able to get through this treaty. The Indian Government is also keen on putting in place such an agenda," a senior Indian official remarked here.

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