CBI questions Belal in hijacking case

CBI questions Belal in hijacking case
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

NEW DELHI, MAY 10: The CBI, which is investigatingthe case of hijacking of the Indian Airlines plane to Kandahar last December, has questioned Belal alias Lalu Mian, who was arrested by the West Bengal police last month, agency sources said here today.

A three-member team from here had gone to question Belal, sources said and added that the agency was in the process of establishing his role in the entire hijacking episode.

The agency will soon file a "production remand" for the arrested accused, sources said. They said they were waiting for the state police to complete its interrogation, after which the CBI would seek his remand and possibly examine him.

Belal alias Lalu Mian was arrested from a hideout near Indo-Bangladesh border in North 24 Parganas district following a tip-off on April 25.

Belal is the fourth person arrested in connection with the hijacking of IC-814 from Nepal to Kandahar last December.

The CBI has already taken custody of three persons Kumar Bhujel, Abdul Latif and Yusuf Nepali, who were arrested by the Crime Branch of Mumbai Police.

While Latif and Nepali are alleged to have provided logistical help to the hijackers and helped them in procuring Indian passports, Bhujel has been alleged to have helped the hijackers in procuring arms used in the incident.