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Patna/Darbhanga, May 8: The arrest of a suspected terrorist in Darbhanga by Karnataka police has generated political heat with chief minister Nitish Kumar lashing out at the southern state for the “illegal” action carried out without informing the local authorities.
“Arresting persons without the knowledge of the local police is wrong and I have asked the DGP to take up the matter with his Karnataka counterpart and register his protest,” Nitish said.
A police team from BJP-ruled Karnataka arrested Kafeel Akhtar from Barasmela village two days ago in connection with the 2010 twin blasts outside Bangalore’s Chinnaswamy Stadium, Darbhanga senior superintendent of police Garima Malik said.
“The Karnataka police did not contact the local police nor informed us about the arrest of Akhtar,” the SSP said, adding that the Darbhanga police came to know about the arrest from Akhtar’s family.
Fifteen people were injured when two low-intensity bombs exploded outside a packed Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 17, 2010, during an IPL match.
A furious Nitish said he had sought a report on the issue and the state’s opposition would be conveyed to the Union home ministry.
“The Karnakata police have brazenly violated an established law about giving prior information to the local police about the arrest of a person from its jurisdiction. This is not right. Rules have been flouted in this case,” Nitish said. “The state's police where the arrest is taking place have to be involved,” he added.
By criticising the Karnataka police, the chief minister has sought to reaffirm his strong opposition to NCTC, which he sees as an attack on the federal structure of the country.
Under the existing rules, any police team visiting a state from outside has to duly inform the police station concerned and produce the arrested person in the court for taking him/her on transit remand. The station house officer is supposed to maintain it in the station diary of the police station. The visiting team can leave with the arrested or detained person only after obtaining transit remand from the court.
None of this appears to have been followed. Bihar DGP Abhayanand said: “A Bangalore police team picked up Kafeel Akhtar from Darbhanga district without informing the local police. The team neither informed the local police nor produced the suspect in the court. Instead they left for their destination without completing the legal formalities,” he said.
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