Indian engineer arrested in Saudi Arabia

Riyadh: Fasih Mahmood, an engineer from Darbhanga, Bihar was arrested by Saudi Police on Sunday and now waiting to be deported to India.

Mahmood, who did his 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 is a practicing doctor and mother is a principal of a school. Mahmood's relatives based in Saudi Arabia have called and informed Indian Embassy in Jeddah. Till earlier today all attempts by family members to meet Mahmood have not been successful.

Talking to TwoCircles.net an official of Indian Embassy, Riyadh confirmed the arrest but 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.

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.

After Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh, it seems that Indian authorities have found a new hunting ground in Darbhanga, Bihar.

Source : TCN