Even as dreaded terrorist Abu Hamza?s reported arrest in Bangladesh on Sunday has raised hopes for police investigators, getting him back may not be an easy task in the light of strained ties and the absence of an extradition treaty with Dhaka.
The guarded MEA response, when asked about the arrest of Hamza, said to be the mastermind behind the Mecca mosque blasts in Hyderabad and suspected to have a hand in the recent Lumbini park blasts, underscored this aspect. ??It is not possible to comment on what the government is planning to do, as there has been no official communication from the other side?? an official said. ??Currently, there is no extradition treaty betweeen the two countries, and, also there is no ?Red Corner? Interpol watchout notice pending against him,?? he added.
Home ministry sources, however, said that subject to confirming the identity of arrested person as Hamza, the government would make a formal request for handing him over to India, under the aegis of the joint mechanism to share actionable intelligence agreed during the recent Indo-Bangladesh home secretary-level talks.
Home secretary Madhukar Gupta on Monday said, ??We have put our own agencies on the job to verify and confirm, whether the person detained in Bangladesh is Mohammad Sharifuddin alias ?Hamza?, a Bangladeshi HUJI operative.?? ??Both RAW and IB are on the job. Let them first come with the confirmation, we will then act??, Gupta added.
