Author: Santosh Jha
Publication: Tribune India
Date: May 24, 2001
URL: http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010524/nation.htm#5
The details that tumbled out during
the interrogation of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Ayub Khan
after his arrest recently here in a flesh trade racket have once again
alerted the Bihar-Jharkhand police and Intelligence personnel about the
growing ISI clout in the states and the role of Afghan nationals in carrying
out the ISI agenda in India.
Ayub Khan is said to have admitted
that he is an Afghan national overstaying his visa period. The papers found
at his house after a police raid are said to have confirmed his links with
the ISI. The police are, however, tight-lipped about his links.
Ayub Khan has got a ration card
made. He has also constructed a palatial house and extends loans on interest.
He is learnt to be the right-hand man of another Afghan don of the locality,
Hidayat Khan, and that is why he enjoyed the status of don.
The police is investigating how
he could stay for more than a year even after his visa period had lapsed.
Ayub Khan along with his friend Dahiya Khan, were arrested a few days ago
from an apartment for their alleged involvement in flesh trade.
Ayub Khan is the vice-president
of the JMM district committee. He is said to be very close to some political
figures and police sources admitted that political pressure was mounted
on them to keep their hands off Ayub Khan but the SP did not yield. The
police is still trying to examine the documents found from Ayub Khan's
house. The hand of the ISI is still to be established.
Earlier, in the light of the threat
of the Lashkar-e-Toiba and the intelligence report of the ISI sending in
large numbers of Afghani mercenaries to Bihar and Jharkhand, the Union
Home ministry had asked the state governments to cooperate in identifying
the Afghan mercenaries in their respective territories.
In the past year, the police has
arrested several Afghan nationals with RDX or fake currency. The Eastern
border districts like Supaul, Sitamarhi and Kishanganj of Bihar have been
marked as sensitive by the central intelligence agencies.
In Supaul district alone, 17 Afghan
nationals have been arrested so far for smuggling fake currency and drugs.
Jharkhand capital Ranchi and other
cities like Jamshedpur, Bokaro and Dhanbad have been identified as possible
hideouts of the Afghans.
The Jharkhand cities, being industrial
in nature, are more cosmopolitan, making it easy to mix. Also, the industrial
mafia and Left wing ultras give them protection. There is evidence of police
and other officials helping them.
