Indian Living In Nepal Arrested For Sending Suspicious SMSes, Making Calls To Indian Cities After Serial Blasts
Mateen Hafeez TNN
Ateam comprising Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Intelligence Bureau officials reached Kathmandu on Tuesday to enquire if Mohammed Zaheer alias Rehan alias Zahid, an Indian national caught in Nepal two days ago, had any links with 13/7.
Zahid (40), currently a resident of Sarlahi district in Nepal’s Terai plains near the Indian border, was arrested by the Kathmandu Metropolitan police on Saturday under the Public Defence Act.
He allegedly sent and received suspicious SMSes and made phone calls to several Indian cities since the July 13 triple blasts in which 128 people were injured at Dadar, Zaveri Bazar and Opera House in Mumbai. The ATS and police in Maharashtra have so far questioned more than 1,500 people but no arrest has been made.
State-run Gorkhapatra daily in Kathmandu flashed a story on Tuesday claiming that Zahid was arrested from Baluwatar on the outskirts of Kathmandu and was being questioned by the police’s anti-terrorist unit in connection with the Mumbai blasts.
However,there was no confirmation about Zahid’s involvement in the Mumbai blasts. “We do not have any official confirmation on such an arrest or detention in Nepal. Had the arrest been made in connection with the blasts, the information would have been passed to the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS),” a senior ATS officer told TOI on Tuesday. He further added that there was no suspect in their list named Zahid.
Zahid had travelled to Mumbai several times in the past. The numbers to which he was allegedly texting messages or making phone calls were not revealed.
The ATS is yet to make a breakthrough in the blast case though it has been 13 days since the blasts occurred. The Kathmandu-based newspaper reported that Zahid had been conducting suspicious activities from his rented apartment in Baluwater, an upmarket area in the capital which also houses the official residence of the Nepalese Prime Minister.
Kathmandu police spokesperson, Navaraj Dhakal, said that a man named Zahid was arrested but “we have no information about his links with the Mumbai blasts.” Meanwhile, superintendent of police Kedar Rijal, the Kathmandu police chief, said that Zahid was arrested for fighting with locals.
Nepal and India do not have an extradition treaty and a draft pact to this effect has been pending with that country for years.
THE NEPAL SUSPECT
Mohammed Zahir alias Rehan alias Zahid Age | 40
Nationality | Indian
Resident Of | Sarlahi district in Nepal’s Terai plains, near Indian border
Arrested From | Baluwatar, an upmarket area near Kathmandu
Accused Of | Ostensibly held for fighting with locals, Zahid is believed to have sent and received suspicious SMSes and made calls to a number under watch for the 13/7 blasts
Mumbai Link |
Zahid has visited Mumbai several times in the past
DF questions
Faiz Usmani interrogation A pprehensions on the death of Faiz Usmani following a heart attack while being interrogated by police on his brother’s alleged role in 13/7, are being raised by members of the ruling Democratic Front alliance too. On Tuesday, Hussain Dalwai, nominated to the Rajya Sabha last week, said in the legislative council that the manner in which Usmani was summoned and questioned needs probing.
The Times of India, July 27, 2011
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