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Nepal police yet to find 'conclusive evidence' of Pak role in hijack

Josy Joseph in New Delhi

The investigation into the hijack of the Indian Airlines Flight IC 814 from Kathmandu has almost reached its final stages in Nepal. The police in Kathmandu are yet to find "conclusive evidence" to link any senior official of the Pakistan embassy there to the terrorist act, sources in the Nepal police say.

According to senior police officials of that country, the Indian claim that Mohammed Arshad Cheema, a first secretary of the Pakistan embassy, had handed over a bag to one of the hijackers minutes before they boarded the Indian Airlines plane on December 24 is "yet to be established conclusively."

The plane took off from Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport on December 24 and the hijackers took over the plane when it was over Lucknow. The passengers were held hostage till December 31. During the course of the hijack, they murdered Rupin Katyal, and finally managed to secure the release of three hardcore Kashmiri militants -- Umar Saeed Sheikh, Mushtak Ahmed Zargar and Maulana Masood Azhar.

Arshad Cheema's highly suspicious visit to the airport on Christmas-eve using diplomatic immunity came to light when some suspended security personnel at the airport were questioned. The log book records too showed that his vehicle (42-CD-14) had entered the airport premises.

The security personnel told the local police that minutes before the New Delhi-bound Flight IC 814 took off, Cheema, accompanied by another lower-level staff of the embassy, entered through the diplomatic channel with a bag. At least two of the suspended staff confirmed that when he came out, the bag was not with Cheema.

According to information gathered by rediff.com, Cheema is the second senior most official of Pakistan's Inter-Service Intelligence posted at Kathmandu, and the most active of them all. He was also accused of handing over RDX consignments to Lakhbir Singh, a Sikh militant last year.

Meanwhile, Nepal government sources told rediff.com that if the police investigations "conclusively prove" that Cheema was involved in the hijack, then "we will take all proper action under the laid down rules." When asked if Nepal would go ahead and expel him, the senior source said, "We will act on the basis of the report of the police and the investigation committee." A five-member committee, headed by a former inspector general of Nepal police, is also investigating the hijack case.

The government source, refusing to be named, said, "The Nepal government has never shied away from its duties," adding that a couple of weeks back a Pak embassy official involved in the circulation of counterfeit currency was expelled.

However, the sources said there have been many hiccups in the hijack case. The Bombay police has established the identity of more than two Muslims residents of Kathmandu who helped the hijackers in the Hindu kingdom in the run-up to the hijack. These people had basically helped the hijackers in finding safe hideouts and with other logistical support.

Despite crystal clear information, the Nepal police seem "reluctant" to arrest the locals, the sources said. Indian government sources, however, said, "In the course of time, the Nepal police will arrest them. Maybe they are waiting for a confirmation from their own probe."

The high-level probe by the five-member committee in Nepal is expected to submit its report to its government by the end of this month. Based on the report, the government of K P Bhattarai will take action. The report was originally slated to be submitted within 15 days, but an extension of another fortnight was given to them.

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