High alert sounded across state; probe on to ascertain if detained persons have links to terror outfits
Bhubaneswar: Visakhapatnam rural police Wednesday detained five Iranians, including two women, who had fled from a city hotel in Master Canteen area in Bhubaneswar January 25 night after being asked to produce identity proofs.
Orissa Crime Branch IG Arun Bothra told the media late Wednesday evening that Vizag rural police have detained five Iranians and have also seized a Toyota Corolla whose registration number is DL-6C-J-1520.
Police have not yet confirmed if the detained persons have links to terrorist organisations.
“We can confirm that those detained by Vizag rural police are the ones who had fled from Bhubaneswar January 25 night as the man detained by them is the same who is seen in the CCTV footage of the hotel. The eyewitnesses here informed us that they saw some foreigners and the Vizag police have also detained a few foreigners. CCTV footage of the car matches with the vehicle they have seized,” he said.
“The owner of the car has a shop at Karol Bagh area in New Delhi. A businessman, who owns Sehgal Jewellers in Karol Bagh area, had given his car to a travel agent. The travel agent had then given the car to the Iranians. We got this information with the help of Delhi Police, Andhra Pradesh Police and other intelligence agencies,” Bothra added.
Bothra said the Iranians had driven by themselves all the way from Delhi to Bhubaneswar.
“We didn’t have any information and it was the first case handed over to the STF. The constable who was present near the hotel was unable to note down the vehicle’s number properly. Initially, we thought that the foreign nationals came in a Ford Ikon, but later we found out that they had come in a Toyota Corolla. We had got the information that they are from Iraq, but they are from Iran. We had very sketchy details at first, but now we can assure that the detainees are the ones who had mysteriously fled from Bhubaneswar, so there is no need to panic anymore,” he stressed.
“Vizag Police has seized five passports from them. An STF team from Bhubaneswar has left for Andhra Pradesh to question the five Iranians. They will investigate why the Iranians came here, whether they have valid documents and why they fled Bhubaneswar. We will investigate their suspicious behaviour and if required, we will bring the five Iranians here on transit remand,” Bothra said.
Earlier in the day, the STF went into overdrive to trace the whereabouts of the missing persons while Bothra speaking to media said they have some substantial leads into the case.
Incidentally, Kharavelnagar police officials were at the hotel for a routine check-up ahead of Republic Day when the four visitors arrived. Sources said they must have escaped upon seeing police at the hotel.
What has sent ruffles through the police department are unconfirmed inputs that the foreigners arrived in the city from Paradip – where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit shortly.
Security of the Chief Minister’s cavalcade has been beefed up following the incident. Sources said police are also investigating reports that the foreigners were possibly trying to disrupt Republic Day celebrations in the capital.
Bargarh cops grill 3 iranians
Bhubaneswar: A day after four suspected terrorists, claiming to be natives of Iraq, went missing, police Wednesday verified the purpose of visit of three Iranians at Bargarh. The three Iranians having tourist visa were found repairing their car bearing Delhi registration number (DL 3AA 2506) at a garage in Bargarh, headquarters of Bargarh district, when police picked them up for verification. Bargarh Superintendent of Police Asish Kumar Singh interrogated them and verified the documents of the three whose visit was ‘suspicious’, police said adding that they were travelling from Sambalpur to Bargarh. The three Iranians were at Bargarh police station till late in the evening, police said. PNN
