Alleged Calcutta Cultural Center Attacker Ordered Held
VOA News
10 Feb 2002 18:31 UTC
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In India, the prime suspect behind last month's attack on the American cultural center in Calcutta has been ordered held in custody after a brief court hearing today (Sunday).

Aftab Ansari, also known as Farhan Malik, was deported to India from the United Arab Emirates Saturday along with an alleged accomplice, Raju Sharma.

Indian authorities say Mr. Ansari claimed responsibility for the cultural center attack, which killed five policemen and wounded 20 others, in a telephone call from Dubai.

Police in Dubai, acting on a tip from India, arrested Mr. Ansari last month with a Pakistani passport as he was boarding a flight to Islamabad. Mr. Ansari, an Indian citizen, had been living in Dubai or Pakistan since fleeing India in 2000.

India has accused Mr. Ansari of being linked to the Pakistani Intelligence service and with a Pakistan-based militant group, called Harkat-ul-Jihad Islami. Pakistan has denied the charge.

(Ap,Afp,BBC )

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