Kolkata: Suspected ISI agent Akhtar’s brother held after interrogation
The Special Task Force (STF) of Kolkata Police on Monday arrested Zafar Khan, the younger brother of suspected ISI agent, Akhtar Khan, who was held on Saturday. Senior officers claimed that Zafar had spent 20 years in Pakistan.
The Special Task Force (STF) of Kolkata Police on Monday arrested Zafar Khan, the younger brother of suspected ISI agent, Akhtar Khan, who was held on Saturday. Senior officers claimed that Zafar had spent 20 years in Pakistan.
While Akhtar (52) was arrested from the city’s Colootala, Zafar was arrested after he was summoned for interrogation to Lalbazar, the Kolkata Police headquarters.
“Zafar went to Pakistan before Akhtar and stayed there for nearly 20 years. In Pakistan, he came in touch with ISI officials and received training from them. Later, he took Akhtar to Pakistan and introduced him to ISI officials. He returned to India prior to Akhtar and started working as per the instruction of ISI officials,” said Akhilesh Chaturvedi, deputy commissioner, STF. In India, Akhtar was a bartender.
Zafar was arrested after he failed to provide satisfactory answers to the sleuths. “Zafar was booked on the same charges that we slapped on Akhtar,” said an STF officer. The STF booked Akhtar under Section 121 of IPC (waging or attempting to wage war against the government of India), 121A of IPC (conspiracy to commit offences against the state), 489B of IPC (using forged or counterfeit currency notes), 489C of IPC (possession of forged or counterfeit currency notes).
“For their service, they were paid by the ISI and this money was sent to them through a chain. Apart from Pakistan, some people in Nepal are also working actively for the ISI and through some businessmen, the agency would send money to both Akhtar and Zafar,” said Chaturvedi. On Saturday, the STF also seized from Akhtar some documents related to the Indian army which they are checking.
“During interrogation, Akhtar told us that his brother Zafar is also involved in this chain. We kept a watch on Zafar and finally decided to summon him to our office,” he added.