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Farhan Malik's extradition may be sought
By Malabika Bhattacharya
KOLKATA, JAN. 23. The Dubai-based Farhan Malik alias Aftab Ansari, prime suspect in Tuesday's Kolkata killings - and said to be operating from Pakistan - may be put in the list of India's Most Wanted which the Centre would give to Pakistan with a request for extradition.
The Special Secretary, Union Home Ministry, Ashok Bhandari, who flew here on Tuesday, is believed to have told the State Government to hand over all evidences relating to the incident so that the Centre could bring Ansari - suspected to be enjoying the support of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence, Pakistan support - back home for trial.
A two-member FBI was in the city today to ascertain whether there was enough evidence to link the ISI with Tuesday's killings.
According to reports with the CID, Ansari's passport shows that he shuttles between Dubai and Karachi. The State Government became aware of Ansari's existence at the time of the abduction of Partha Roy Burman, owner of Khadim shoes and a city- based businessman. Ansari played a key role in the planning and execution of the abduction.
The American Center is said to have found vital clues to the identity of the assailants. The FBI men are going through the video footage of the shootout obtained from the closed circuit television camera installed at the Center.
Ansari, belonging to the Harkat-ul-Jehad-e-Islami, had telephoned certain city-based newspapers and private television channels and the CID officials from Dubai on Tuesday claiming responsibility for the killings. ``I want you to know and through it your people, Government and police, that I, on behalf of A.R. (Asif Reza) Commando Force, am taking the full responsibility (for the killings),'' he told The Telegraph newspaper.
The killings, Ansari explained, was to avenge the death of Rajan alias Asif Reza Khan, prime suspect in the abduction of Partha Roy Burman, a few months ago. Rajan, one of Ansari's key men, was killed in an encounter with policemen in Rajkot in Gujarat some time back.
``I can assure you that the investigation is progressing smoothly. We are moving in the right direction. We hope to be in a position to tell you who the killers are, soon,`` Mr. Bhandari said.
The U.S. Consul-General in Kolkata, Christopher J. Sandrolini, met Government officials at the State headquarters today and expressed satisfaction over the stepped-up security arrangement at the American Center and the U.S. consulate, located close by. Meanwhile, about 50 persons have been detained here for interrogation. Police are also examining the international calls made in the past few days to get a possible clue. They are conducting intensive combing operations all over the State in search of the assailants. The administration is keeping a close watch on the madrasas, especially in the districts bordering Bangladesh.
``We have not been able to confirm the claims made by certain terrorist outfits for the Kolkata killings,'' Amit Kiran Deb, State Home Secretary, said. ``We are collaborating with the Central intelligence agencies to find out the culprits. If they think they would need the help of the Interpol, they would do so.''
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