London, March 3: The UK Metropolitan Police has arrested a terrorist wanted in India for 17 years over his role in the Surat bomb blast of 1993.
The extradition unit of the Metropolitan Police on February 16 arrested 49-year-old
Mohammed Hanif Umerji Patel, also known as Tiger Hanif, at a residential address in Bolton, Greater Manchester. Hanif was said to be working in Bolton as a greengrocer at Barkat Enterprises on Derby Road, Daubhill, but there was no police confirmation of this.
Hanif is wanted in India in connection with a terrorist-related bombing in Surat in 1993, in which one person was killed and 12 others injured, the police here said. “Hanif was arrested on behalf of the Indian authorities under an extradition warrant alleging conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to cause explosions,” Scotland Yard said on Wednesday.
The Indian high commission in London did not react to the news of Hanif’s arrest, and did not confirm if it was helping the CBI in getting the Surat bombing suspect extradited.
Hanif was produced at the City of Westminster magistrates’ court on February 17, and his next appearance is due on March 25.
After the initial hearing, Hanif was remanded in custody and will appear again on March 25, a spokesperson of the City of Westminster magistrates’ court said on Wednesday.
After the arrest, the CBI has 45 days to produce documents and proof to facilitate Hanif’s extradition to India. The court will rule on the extradition application on March 25.
Once the court has cleared the extradition, Britain’s home secretary will have to decide on the matter and issue the necessary orders before the suspect can actually be sent back to India to stand trial.
Age Correspondent
