New Delhi, Oct 20 (IANS): External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has voiced "deep concern" over a three-year-old Indian girl in Texas who has been missing since October 7 after her foster father made her stand outside the house as punishment for not drinking milk. She said the Indian Embassy is actively involved in the search.

"We are deeply concerned about the missing child. Indian Embassy in US is actively involved and they keep me informed," Sushma Swaraj tweeted late on Thursday night.

According to reports, Sherin Mathews had gone missing from her home in Richardson, Texas. Her father Wesley Mathews told police he'd sent his daughter — in her pyjamas at 3 a.m. on October 7 — to stand alone beneath a tree outside the home as "punishment for refusing to drink milk". When he went to the spot after sometime, the girl was not there.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has joined the probe along with the police. The FBI has searched the Mathews' house.

Sherin's parents also have a four-year-old daughter, who was moved to a foster family by the Child Protection Services, Dallas News reported quoting an agency spokeswoman.