By TCN Staff Reporter,
Patna: Full six days have passed since Fasih Mahmood, an engineer from Darbhanga, Bihar was arrested by local Police in Al Jubail, Saudi Arab at the request of Indian authorities. Yet there is no word from the Government of India about his status, charges and whereabouts. His parents in Badhsamela village in Darbhanga have not yet got any word either from Indian embassy in Saudi or Indian government.
Fasih was arrested by Saudi police on 13th May. He was just allowed to change dress. His wife was sent to a relative there. On Wednesday she reached Patna – her parents’ home.
Is Fasih still in Saudi or has been deported to India? Why has his deportation been sought? These questions are waiting reply from the government.
On 15th May, Indian Embassy in Riyadh had confirmed to TCN about his arrest but did not disclose the Indian agency who had sought his deportation and for what purpose.
An official of Indian Embassy, Riyadh could only say that they have written an official letter to the Saudi Foreign Office in this regard but they have not been able to meet Fasih Mahmood. He denied having any knowledge that the request for the arrest came from the Indian authorities.
Mahmood, B.Tech. (Mechanical) was working in Saudi Arabia for the last five years. He was arrested Sunday afternoon from his home in Jubail. Saudi Police informed the family that the Indian government has asked Mahmood to be deported to India.
Mahmood comes from a respectable family of Darbhanga. His father Firoz Ahmed is a practicing doctor and mother is a principal of a school.
This deportation request can be seen as a continuation of the recent arrests of Muslim youth of Darbhanga on the charges of terrorism. So far there have been arrests of at least 13 Muslim youth from or in Darbhanga. If Fasih Mahmood is indeed wanted in the charges of terrorism then this will be the first case of an international arrest requested by the Indian authorities. India and Saudi Arabia have signed an extradition treaty in 2010.