Chile arrests ‘key Kandahar suspect’
Authorities in Chile have reportedly detained a person namely Abdul Rauf, suspected to be a key conspirator in the hijacking of Indian Airlines plane (IC-814). The CBI, probing the hijacking, is expected to send a team of its officials to Chile to verify the identity of the suspect.
Sources in the agency said that the Chilean police informed the CBI that they had detained Abdul Rauf, resident of Bhawalpur, Pakistan, and there was also an Interpol Red Corner notice pending against him. Rauf was arrested in a case of fake visa but during investigations the Chile police found that Interpol has issued a notice against a person named Abdul Rauf who was involved in the hijacking, sources added.
“Authorities concerned in Chile also sent fingerprints of Rauf for verification to the Indian authorities. It needs to be properly verified whether the person detained by the authorities in Chile is the same Rauf who is an accused in the IC-814 hijack,” sources said. Neither Rauf’s picture nor his fingerprints was available with the CBI, sources said adding that only after proper verification his identity could be ascertained.
A team of CBI and Central intelligence agencies officials will leave for Chile to verify the identity of the suspect in a day or two. Final decision about sending a team to Chile will be taken on Tuesday, sources added.
Sources further said, “Abdul Rauf, wanted by the CBI, is the brother-in-law of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar and was among the main conspirators in the hijacking of Indian Airlines plane from Kathmandu on December 24, 1999”.
The Jaish chief was among the three terrorists exchanged for the plane and over 160 passengers after eight days of negotiations carried out at Kandhahar, Afghanistan.
Sources further said Rauf was in constant touch with the hijackers.
Post new comment