THE Indian Prime Minister has expressed his personal shame at the kidnapping of Blackburn student Paul Wells.
Mr Inda Gujral revealed his sorrow during a 30-minute meeting with Paul's father Bob in Delhi.
The meeting was the highlight of Mr Wells' latest mission to find his missing son.
Mr Wells, who arrived back in England on Sunday, said the trip to India, Pakistan and Kashmir had left him exhausted.
He said: "The Indian Prime Minister expressed his concern about the situation and his personal feeling of shame.
"He also gave a pledge that he would do everything in his power to get the matter resolved and find out what has happened to Paul and the others.
"He was also really keen to work with the western government." During his visit to Kashmir, Mr Wells drew a blank in a search for clues about his son's whereabouts.
"There was no information whatsoever in both Jammu and Srinagar," he said.
"The people we spoke to all wanted to be seen to be helpful and told us what we wanted to hear.
"But we instructed these people that they should give us the truth.
"We were a lot more aggressive this time and were not just going around cap in hand. We were a lot more positive in demanding action."
Mr Wells, of Bracken Close, Feniscowles, was accompanied by Paul's girlfriend Catherine Moseley, Julie Mangan, wife of hostage Keith and James Bowman, director of the Hostage sin Kashmir Campaign.
The group organised press conferences and meetings with the German, Norwegian and US ambassadors.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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