E/CN.4/1998/79 page 17 the persons concerned in the Abidjan transit area; the persons concerned are invariably expelled to their country of origin and are not, therefore, abandoned to their fate; these persons are taken back by Belgium if they are unable to proceed from Abidjan to the country of which they are nationals; pending the continuation of their journey they remain in the transit area at Abidjan airport under the supervision of the Côte d'Ivoire authorities and are not entrusted to the Budd firm.” Special Rapporteur's observations 56. The Special Rapporteur is grateful to the Belgian Government for its cooperation and its prompt reaction to his request. However, and pending the receipt of the fuller reply promised, he is extremely concerned by the practices described above, even in the way they are presented by the Government. He is also awaiting the reactions of the Ivorian Government. (b) India: Communication dated 20 December 1996 and reminder dated 18 August 1997 57. The Special Rapporteur was informed of the situation of the untouchables in India in communications from three organizations, namely, the Ambedkar Centre for Justice and Peace, the World Council of Churches and the Dalit Liberation Education Trust (E/CN.4/1997/71). He communicated these allegations to the Indian authorities, which replied to him on 30 September 1997. Reply from the Indian Government 58. In substance, the Indian Government rejects the allegations that it tolerated untouchability and closed its eyes to the human rights violations of protected castes. The reply contains a list of the measures taken in this regard with a view to curbing discrimination between castes and maintains that a practice that is so old cannot be eliminated rapidly. Special Rapporteur's observations 59. In view of the discrepancy between the facts alleged and the reply of the Indian Government, the Special Rapporteur would like to visit India in order personally to evaluate the actual situation in cooperation with the Government and the communities concerned. The country's authorities will be contacted with a view to arranging this mission. (c) Italy 60. The Italian Government was informed on 23 December 1996 that, according to information received, a Ghanaian citizen was allegedly beaten by police officers at Leonardo da Vinci International Airport at Fiumicino while in transit between Denmark and Ghana. Furthermore, a woman of Italian nationality but Nigerian origin was allegedly assaulted physically in a xenophobic manner by police officers. She claimed that, when she stated she was an Italian citizen, she was told that “a black woman cannot be an Italian citizen” (E/CN.4/1997/71). The Italian Government replied to the Special Rapporteur on 26 November 1997.