NIA questions Odisha man over suspected LeT link

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday questioned an Odisha man over his suspected link with terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist outfit, an official said.

Akhtar Hussain Khan, 52, was questioned at the NIA headquarters here for over nine hours, an NIA official told IANS, adding his questioning would be continued for a few days.

The NIA is already scrutinizing Khan's mobile phone, his bank passbook and few documents recovered from his house and also want to know about some suspected phone calls made to him from Pakistan in last few months, the official said.

The NIA had on November 29 conducted raids at Khan's residence in Samantarapur village in Odisha's Cuttack district and subsequently issued notice to him asking to depose before its headquarters in Delhi on December 4 over his link with LeT terrorist Abdul Naeem Sheikh.

Sheikh, who was arrested on November 28 from Lucknow by the NIA and Uttar Pradesh Anti Terrorist Squad, had reportedly named Khan of having link with him during the interrogation, the official said.

Khan, who was issued notice as a witness under Section 160 of the CrPC, had earlier claimed that he was completely innocent and being harassed unnecessarily by the investigating agency.

"I am a poor man and have no links with any terror outfits. NIA officers questioned me lot of things about money transactions in my bank account and inquired about few phone numbers. I answered all their questions honestly. They found nothing, still I don't know why they are harassing me unnecessarily," Khan has said.

"I don't even have money to visit Delhi. I am innocent. I will take a loan to go to Delhi and will cooperate completely with the NIA."

He has also said that he is a "true Hindustani and have faith in the judiciary" of the country. "I am no way related to any terrorist or terror group. Truth will prevail. I often had talked to one of my former colleagues and friends, who presently resides in Lahore."

Working in a garage in Saudi Arabia for a decade before returning to his village four years ago, Khan stays with his wife and children in Samantarapur.

--IANS

rak/vd