16 January 2007 :
India and Portugal signed an extradition treaty, despite Portuguese objections to the death penalty which exists in India. Portugal, a pioneer in the abolition of the death penalty, abolished death penalty for all crimes, including those of a military nature, in 1867, a senior Portuguese diplomat said. The treaty, an important symbol of mutual confidence, comes over a year after underworld operative Abu Salem was sent back to India by Portuguese authorities in November 2005.A group of senior Portuguese officials from their Justice Department held intensive discussions over the past few days to conclude the agreement, a Portuguese diplomat said. The treaty is similar to those India has with other European countries like France, Germany and Bulgaria, a senior official said.
(Sources: www.hindustantimes.com, 11/01/2007)










