Two including Imam detained for questioning from Haldwani in Delhi terror blast probe

PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Haldwani/Dehradun

Two persons including an Imam were detained for questioning in Haldwani late on Friday night. The Imam of Bilali Masjid in Vanbhulpura area of Haldwani, Mohammed Asim Kazmi was held late on Friday night. The action is reported to be part of the investigation in the recent terror blast in Delhi on November 10. Sources informed that a team of National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Delhi police took Kazmi into custody past midnight on Friday. At the same time, a team picked up an electrician Nazar Kamal from the Rajpura area. According to sources, both the suspects were taken by the police to Delhi.

News of the arrests spread in the city 0n Saturday morning with speculations galore. According to sources, the arrests may be a result of the investigation into the recent Delhi terror blast and checks into the mobile phone call records of the suspects. Meanwhile, considering the sensitivity of the Muslim dominated area of Vanbhulpura, the police led by superintendent of police (City) Manoj Katyal reached the area along with other officers and police force. There was considerable police presence at the Bilali Masjid and the neighbouring residence of the Imam. Kazmi hails from Dadhiyal in Rampur and has been working here as the Imam for the past four years. The Nainital senior superintendent of police Manjunath TC said that the matter is related to national security. The special task force and the local police also assisted the security agencies in the action taken on Friday night. Some suspects have been taken into custody and are being questioned, he said.

Meanwhile, the police are maintaining an alert in the State with a rise in checks in the provisional State capital Dehradun. Police in Dehradun launched a large-scale checking drive to ensure the safety of the public. On the instruction of Dehradun senior superintendent of police Ajai Singh, checking was conducted at all border check posts and internal routes. On Saturday, police checked more than 1,400 vehicles and questioned over 2,700 people. People coming from different States were also questioned and their verification details were collected.

   Police teams inspected religious places, crowded markets and sensitive locations. Officials said the checking drive will continue in the coming days to ensure the desired level of security.