India denies payback motive for arrest of US policeman

 A New York police officer's arrest in India has sparked accusations of revenge over the detention last year of an Indian diplomat in New York, but India said Saturday there is no connection. The police officer, identified as Manny Encarnacion, was detained at the airport in New Delhi after bullets were found in his luggage, a violation of Indian laws against firearms. US lawmaker Peter King, who represents New York in Congress, expressed "grave concern" over the arrest, in a letter dated April 4 sent to the State Department. In the letter, which was posted in full on CBS New York's web site, King said the arrest "is clearly politically motivated in response to the arrest of India's then-Deputy Consul General in December 2013 in New York for alleged visa fraud." According to media reports, Encarnacion was told by the arresting officer in New Delhi that New York police "like to strip-search our diplomats." But India's diplomatic representation in New York Saturday released a statement flatly denying there was any link between the two arrests, according to a news agency.