New Delhi: India on Tuesday stated that it will take up the issue with the Belgian government after a staff member of the Belgian embassy in Delhi was allegedly involved in displaying a poster of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with the word “Wanted” in Delhi’s Chanakyapuri area.
The posters appeared on at least two electricity poles within the high-security diplomatic enclave. They displayed a photo of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with the word “Wanted,” resembling a criminal notice. The incident took place last week.
Suspect remains unidentified
The foreign national suspected of posting the posters is an employee of the Belgian Embassy in Delhi. He is currently being investigated by the Delhi Police, who have not disclosed specific details of his actions, and his identity remains undisclosed.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) acknowledged the incident and stated that it will address the matter with Belgium through formal diplomatic channels. This statement followed a notification from the Delhi Police to the Union Home Ministry.
Investigations underway
To track down the individual behind the posters, Delhi Police examined footage from over 50 CCTV cameras in the area. The review led to the identification of a man dressed in a blue shirt and black trousers, arriving on a bicycle around 5:30 a.m., seen placing one of the posters on an electricity pole. Further footage showed him leaving a flat on Sardar Patel Marg. Police later visited the address and verified that the person residing there is an employee of the embassy.
As the foreign national holds diplomatic immunity, the Delhi Police cannot legally register an FIR against him. Instead, they compiled a detailed report and submitted it to the Union Home Ministry, which then coordinated with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Meanwhile, Belgium has consistently criticized Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza. In 2023, it was one of 121 countries that supported a United Nations General Assembly resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza conflict.
