No terrorist link found to arrested Kashmiri youth: Uttar Pradesh IG

Shahira Naim
Tribune News Service
Lucknow, January 9

Police have found no terrorist link to a Kashmiri youth arrested while travelling without ticket in a train from New Delhi to Bhopal, a high-ranking police officer said on Monday.   

The youngster, Bilal Ahmad Wani, was arrested by Government Railway Police from Palwal while travelling in the New Delhi-Bhopal Shatabdi Express, and later handed over to the Anti Terrorist Squad.

Uttar Pradesh ATS Inspector General Asim Arun said that there was nothing irregular about his background.

Wani reportedly pretended to be deaf and mute when the railway’s Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) asked for his ticket, raising his suspicion. The TTE reported Wani to the police, who made him alight at Mathura at 8.30 am on Sunday.

Wani continued to pretend until Sunday noon, even speaking in signs, but finally gave his name and address when officers of the ATS and local intelligence persisted in questioning him.

He said he was from Anantnag, where his family owned a medical store.

“The name and address shared by him were corroborated by the Kashmir police. Till now no terrorist link has been confirmed,” Arun said.

The names and addresses of two more Kashmiri youth who had been staying with him at Delhi hotel in Delhi were found to be correct. The ATS is now looking for them to bring them in for questioning.