It was reported in this newspaper last fortnight that if you have a name similar to a terror suspect and wanted to go abroad, then the chances are that you would face an ordeal. Ask Mohammed Shafiq Ahmed (23) now cooling his heels in the cooler in Hyderabad. He has just returned to the city after being deported from London.
This after being detained at London’s Heathrow Airport for three days and grilled by immigration authorities probing his links with terrorist groups.
However, Hyderabad police officials, who said he committed no offence, did a U-turn late on Wednesay night and arrested Shafiq.
He was arrested under Section 41 A of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) on grounds of 'reasonable suspicion'. "His passport and visa are valid, but we are not satisfied with his reasons for going to the US to pursue higher studies. There is also an element of doubt about his academic certificates," said deputy commissioner of police (North Zone) Shikha Goel. Shafiq was produced before a magistrate late on Wednesday night.
According to police officials, a case was lodged against Shafiq at the Malakpet police station for criminal intimidation. He allegedly threatened the local MLA in 2004 and was subsequently arrested in 2005. Police officials, however, said that the latest arrest had nothing to do with the 2004 case.
If you thought that Shafiq’s travel papers were not in order, that’s not correct. His passport and visa were both in order, and the young man was on his way to New York to pursue an MBA programme at the Johnson and Wales University at Rhodes Island.
Earlier, Shafiq told TOI at the Begumpet police station, what bothered the British immigration authorities was the fact that the young man was flying straight from Dubai to New York via London.
Shafiq was working in a trading company in Dubai and the British officials quizzed the young man as to why he flew direct instead of taking a detour through Hyderabad to meet his parents. Shafiq stayed in Dubai with his elder brother.
"Many Asian Muslims are being asked such questions. I am tired of this ordeal," Shafiq told TOI.
This after being detained at London’s Heathrow Airport for three days and grilled by immigration authorities probing his links with terrorist groups.
However, Hyderabad police officials, who said he committed no offence, did a U-turn late on Wednesay night and arrested Shafiq.
He was arrested under Section 41 A of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) on grounds of 'reasonable suspicion'. "His passport and visa are valid, but we are not satisfied with his reasons for going to the US to pursue higher studies. There is also an element of doubt about his academic certificates," said deputy commissioner of police (North Zone) Shikha Goel. Shafiq was produced before a magistrate late on Wednesday night.
According to police officials, a case was lodged against Shafiq at the Malakpet police station for criminal intimidation. He allegedly threatened the local MLA in 2004 and was subsequently arrested in 2005. Police officials, however, said that the latest arrest had nothing to do with the 2004 case.
If you thought that Shafiq’s travel papers were not in order, that’s not correct. His passport and visa were both in order, and the young man was on his way to New York to pursue an MBA programme at the Johnson and Wales University at Rhodes Island.
Earlier, Shafiq told TOI at the Begumpet police station, what bothered the British immigration authorities was the fact that the young man was flying straight from Dubai to New York via London.
Shafiq was working in a trading company in Dubai and the British officials quizzed the young man as to why he flew direct instead of taking a detour through Hyderabad to meet his parents. Shafiq stayed in Dubai with his elder brother.
"Many Asian Muslims are being asked such questions. I am tired of this ordeal," Shafiq told TOI.