Afghan ’bomb maker’ in Delhi cop net

20-year-old Afghan arrested for allegedly aiding terrorists, says he was 'framed' by neighbour from Kabul because of a land dispute

Afghan 'bomb maker' in Delhi cop net

20-year-old Afghan arrested for allegedly aiding terrorists, says he was 'framed' by neighbour from Kabul because of a land dispute

It was an anonymous call from Kabul that woke cops up on a lazy Saturday afternoon on May 23 at the Jamia Nagar police station in south Delhi.

The caller, who refused to divulge his identity, informed the policemen that 20-year-old Zakir Khan (name changed to protect his identity), a resident of Sarai Julena at Jamia Nagar, was a bomb-maker.

The caller from Kabul dialled the Delhi Police Control Room number and said that an Afghan national living illegally at Jamia Nagar was involved in subversive activities, including making bombs, said a Delhi Police official, wishing anonymity.

Following the tip-off, police and intelligence officials immediately cordoned off the area, taking every precaution to arrest the "bomb maker" without any untoward incident.
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But the mysterious Zakir Khan gave up without any resistance.

Security officials involved in the operation believed they had arrested a significant person in the global terror network, and Khan was taken away for joint interrogation.

However, to everyone's dismay, the alleged bomb maker turned out to be a foreign national, whose only crime was that he had misplaced his travel documents, including passport, and was living in India illegally.

During his interrogation Khan revealed he knew nothing about making bombs.

Khan said his family in Kabul was involved in an old land dispute with a neighbour, who didn't want Khan to return and claimed the disputed property.
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"His parents and siblings live in Kabul and he said his neighbour has been eyeing their land for quite some time.
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He also said that the neighbour must have called to frame him in a police case so that he would never be able to return to Afghanistan," said a senior intelligence official, wishing anonymity.

Meanwhile, police and security officials are trying to confirm Khan's claims.

"The investigation is on and we are trying to get more details through diplomatic channels as well," said the officer.
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"But it seems unlikely that he was making bombs or was involved in any kind of illegal activity except living in India without valid documents," he added.

The police are also investigating the details of the call from Kabul. An FIR has been registered against Khan under Foreigner's Act for staying in India without passport and visa.

"He can be deported to Afghanistan but that will be decided only after the investigation is over," said the intelligence official.u00a0

The Afghan trail

Twenty-year-old Khan came to India in 1997 on a valid visa for two months.

But he misplaced the visa soon after reaching Delhi, police officials said. Khan contacted the office of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Delhi to apply for refugee status.

But before the UNHCR could process his case, Khan lost his passport and thus decided
to stay on without any official papers.

Khan started to earn his livelihood in Delhi by working as a "facilitator" for Afghans coming to India. "He was earning well and married a local girl from Delhi about six months ago.

His in-laws belong to Bulandshahar in Uttar Pradesh and they never suspected his involvement in any illegal activity," said a police officer, wishing anonymity.

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