INDIA, PORTUGAL SIGN EXTRADITION TREATY

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.