The father of Sajjad Ahmad Khan, 26, an alleged Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militant, who the Delhi police said was arrested last week, alleged that his son was picked up by the police as early as February 22.
The special cell of the Delhi police had said in a press release that Sajjad Khan was arrested on March 21, on charges of criminal conspiracy, waging war and under relevant Sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Handed over to NIA
The accused was later handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which claimed that the police made the arrest based on specific information provided by it. “Sajjad Khan was specially sent to Delhi to set up hideouts in Delhi. This was done to select specific targets and also to radicalise and recruit Muslim youths to further terror activities,” a press release by NIA had said.
However, on Monday, both the NIA and Delhi Police distanced themselves from the arrest. The NIA said the Delhi police should answer on Sajjad Khan’s arrest, while the latter refused to comment.
The NIA registered a fresh case on March 15 against the JeM leadership for a conspiracy to carry out terrorist acts and organise camps to recruit cadres.
Regular visitor
Contesting the claims of the police and the NIA, Ghulam Nabi Khan said his son, a shawl vendor, had left for Delhi in November, as he had done for the past four years.
“We came to know that the Delhi police’s special cell picked up my son and six other people from Delhi Gate around February 22. It was published even in local newspapers. I rushed to Delhi and met the police officials at Lodhi Road. The police confirmed his arrest and promised to release him soon,” Mr. Khan, a carpenter and a small farmer, told The Hindu .
“I reached home with the hope he would be released. Within days, I saw he being framed with an attack in Kashmir. How can he be a part of any attack when he has been in Delhi from November and in police custody since February?” he asked.
Mr. Khan said two of Sajjad’s siblings had been killed last year after joining militancy — Ishfaq Ahmad Khan was killed on April 24, 2018 and Showkat Ahmad Khan on October 30, 2018.
However, he said Sajjad was being framed.
