Purulia arms drop: UK awaits response to Blair's letter

The British government is awaiting New Delhi's response to two letters written by Prime Minister Tony Blair to his Indian counterpart Atal Bihari Vajpayee requesting the release of its national, Peter Bleach, serving a life sentence in the Purulia arms drop case.

Blair had sent two letters to Vajpayee calling for 'equal treatment' to Peter Bleach at par with the five Latvians released after receiving the President's clemency, newly appointed British Deputy High Commissioner Andrew Hall said in Kolkata.

Hall, after visiting the convict in the Presidency Jail, said, "Our government still awaits New Delhi's response to the letters concerning Bleach's release."

He expressed hope that the Indian government would consider Beach's case.