U-22 player was arrested on terror suspicion
U-22 player was arrested on terror suspicionAn under-22 cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir was arrested here Saturday after traces of explosives were found in his bag but he was freed later. The incident sparked protests from the Jammu and Kashmir cricket officials who accused the Karnataka Police of harassment.
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Dog squad at the Chinnaswamy Stadium pic/Vinodkumar T |
Police said Pervez Rasool, a graduate student from Anantnag, was taken into custody from the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, leading to the rescheduling of the first Champions League T20 match between Cape Cobras and Victorian Bushrangers.
Even as he was let off for want of incriminating evidence, the Jammu and Kashmir team manager Hilal Ahmed insisted that two Kashmiri players were detained.
"The police picked up two of our players, Pervez and Mehraj-ud-Din. Both were kept in separate rooms in the police station where I visited them," Ahmad said.
The police, however, said they had arrested only one player. "We have released Pervez after questioning," Bengaluru Police Commissioner Shankar Bidari said.
"His bag would be sent to the forensic laboratory. If the result proves positive, Rasool may be detained again," Bidari said. "Right now he is a free man and free to move around."
Rasool was staying in the rooms in the Chinnaswamy Stadium after reaching Bengaluru late Friday to take part in the C K Nayudu tournament.
Bidari said metal detectors at the stadium sent out signals Friday night, indicating the presence of explosive.
The police were alerted Saturday.
"Our experts searched the area. The signals led to room no 105 in the stadium. There we found a bag with traces of explosives. The bag belonged to Rasool," Bidari said. "It appears the bag might have been used in the recent past to transport explosives."
Security within and around stadium was stepped after the incident. "The matches will go on," said M R Pujar, additional commissioner of police.
Salim Khan, secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association, termed the arrest "100 per cent harassment by police. Nothing has been found. He is clean".
"We demand an apology from the Karnataka police and administration. We may ask the team to return to Kashmir as a mark of protest," Khan said.
The detention shocked the Jammu and Kashmir team. "Pervez is our all rounder and he has scored the highest runs in last year's championships," team manager Ahmad said.
Police maintain they were following the standard security drill.
"We did our duty. About 40,000 people would be there in the stadium to watch the matches. We have to ensure their safety," police chief Bidari said.
