Pak national held in old Delhi, terror link suspected

Eighteen days after a cache of arms and ammunition hidden inside a guest house in Jama Masjid area was recovered following the arrest of suspected Hizbul Mujahideen militant Syed Liyaqat Shah, a Pakistani national was arrested on Monday from the same locality. Jatin Anand and Karn Pratap Singh report.

Eighteen days after a cache of arms and ammunition hidden inside a guest house in Jama Masjid area was recovered following the arrest of suspected Hizbul Mujahideen militant Syed Liyaqat Shah, a Pakistani national was arrested on Monday from the same locality.

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The arrested Pakistani national, identified as Mohammad Samim, was staying in India illegally though his visa had expired around two months ago, police said. A case under 14 Foreigner Act has been registered against Samim, who hails from Karachi in Pakistan.

Though police claimed that Samim was arrested for his illegal stay in India, he is being interrogated by a joint team of Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the special branch of Delhi police to ascertain if his illegal stay has any terror connection.

A senior police officer said Samim was arrested by a team of the central Delhi police after they received information that a suspicious man, who allegedly deals in counterfeit currency notes, was staying illegally at a house in Jama Masjid area.

"Samim was taken into custody and was subjected to sustained interrogation. During interrogation, he revealed that he had come to India to meet his brother Abdul Hussain and was staying at Hussain's house even after his visa expired on February 3," said the senior officer, adding Samim's passport and expired Visa were seized and sent for verification.

On verification of Samim's passport and visa, it was learnt that he had come to Delhi on December 5, last year in a bus. The validity of his visa expired on January 1, but he requested the Ministry of Home Affairs of India to extend his visa. The MHA accepted his request and extended Samim's visa upto February 3. He again requested the MHA for an extension of his visa but it was turned down.