New Delhi, Jan 5 (IANS) The government Thursday said the two Indian traders, who were holed up in a China hotel and were facing threats following a business dispute, were safe in Shanghai.

But their return to India will take time till the commercial litigation is resolved.

“The traders are in Shanghai. At this stage the consulate officials are in touch with them,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin told reporters here.

He refused to disclose their location “because they are in a state of shock, and it is best that they are in a safe and secure place”.

“But they are safe, we could assure you,” he said.

He said they can return home only after the commercial litigation against them was resolved.

“The litigation has to run its course and a final outcome has to be reached before they are able to move out and come back to India,” he said.

Akbaruddin said they were given “all possible assistance in accordance with our usual procedures there”.

The two Indian traders were released Wednesday after Indian consulate intervened. They were taken to Shanghai after they had been held captive by locals in Yiwu, a trading hub of China, as their Yemeni boss has been absconding after erring on payment of dues running into millions of dollars.