Interpol notice to bring back Salahuddin for cases in Bangladesh

Interpol's Dhaka unit has sent a request to India with a 'red corner' notice to arrest and repatriate the man who claims to be BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed, says the 'Telegraph' of Kolkata.

Meghalaya police Director General Rajiv Mehta told the 'Telegraph' that Interpol Dhaka unit has sent this request, saying Ahmed was wanted in connection with several criminal cases in Bangladesh.

A 'red corner' notice has been issued to arrest and send back the man who claims to be Ahmed, he said.

But Meghalaya police is yet to officially establish the identity of the man who claimed to be "BNP leader Salahuddin".

So far, the police in Meghalaya have not been able to produce him in court as he is under medical oversight following complaints of heart and kidney ailments.

"But we hope we can produce him in court soonest," a Meghalaya police official said. "We would like to send him back if he is wanted in cases in Bangladesh."

Officials say that the Interpol would only make such a request to India if it had been provided with details of cases against Ahmed in Bangladesh.

"We learn that many cases have been filed against senior BNP leaders including Salahuddin for instigating and orchestrating violence during the party's violent transport blockade," said officials. "So Dhaka would surely want him back to stand trial."

But Bangladesh diplomats in India say they are yet to be formally informed about Ahmed's arrest, says bdnews24.com's New Delhi Correspondent Gautam Debroy.

"We will surely move fast once we are formally informed. We can't start official action on the basis of media reports," said one senior diplomat in the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi.

Sources in the Indian Ministry of External Affairs say they are waiting for a detailed report from Meghalaya government before they inform Bangladesh officially.

"Such a report will be sent only after the Meghalaya police can interrogate the man claiming to be Salahuddin," a top MEA source said.

"Until such time we have that official report, we cannot touch base with Bangladesh government on basis of media reports," he said.