NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTION 99
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

Calcutta's 'Israeli hijack' drama takes new turn

Mohammad Javed R in Calcutta

For the 11 Israelis who, after undergoing a marathon grilling by the Calcutta airport authorities, finally got the chance to board Bangladesh Biman's flight BG096 on Wednesday night, the woes are far from over.

Despite possessing valid Bangladeshi visas, they had been abruptly taken off the flight. They spent another night at the immigration cell of the Calcutta airport.

A senior Biman official told rediff.com that the Bangladesh government has barred their entry in their country following rumours over their alleged identity as hijackers.

The Biman's station manager at the Calcutta airport, Akhtar Ali, said that they were forced to take off the passengers after receiving a message from the Bangladesh government that they would not be allowed in as visitors. "Last night our home secretary called up the Bangladesh high commission office in Calcutta asking them to cancel their visas immediately," Ali added.

However, the officials remain tightlipped on the issue. When contacted, the press secretary to the deputy high commissioner in Calcutta, Taiyab Ali, declined to comment on the matter. "Please do not drag us into an unnecessary controversy as we have only complied with our government's order," he pleaded.

The Bangladesh government's refusal to permit the entry of the Israelis stems from the widespread buzz that these Israeli nationals, if granted entry in its territory, would have masterminded the release of five assassins of Shaikh Mujebur Rahman who are currently imprisoned in a Dhaka jail.

The intelligence branch of the Calcutta police isn't allowing the media to meet the detained foreigners. However, an immigration officer who was present during the interrogation told rediff.com that all of them are on a religious tour.

"They have described themselves as members of an Islamic outfit, Tablighi Jamaat, whose activities revolve around the propagation of religious teachings. By now we are absolutely convinced that they have no connection with any subversive elements," he said.

Though the Jamaat's activities are well spread throughout Bangladesh, it is headquartered in Delhi's Nizamuddin mosque. After their arrival in India, all passengers are believed to have stayed in the said mosque for a short period.

The Centre has been intimated about the whole episode.

Tell us what you think of this report