India - Ghaziabad: Arrests of Sameer, Sajid a mistake, Delhi Police were wrongly informed, say families

The Indian Express

Arrests of Sameer, Sajid a mistake, Delhi Police were wrongly informed, say families
Delhi Police said that he was in touch with handler of Jaish-e-Muhammad, had made IEDs with the help of iron pipes, timers and explosive material.

Written by Abhishek Angad , Aditi Vatsa
New Delhi/ghaziabad

Published:May 5, 2016, 5:25

The family members of Sajid and Sameer say their arrest is a “mistake” by the police, who have been wrongly informed. Sajid’s family members said at about 10 pm Monday, around five police personnel entered their house in Chandbagh. The family runs a workshop on the ground floor, manufacturing women’s undergarments.

Sajid’s sister Mehzabi said, “Police ransacked the entire shop looking for something. Later, they started accumulating things like iron pipe, machine oil, spring used in the motors of the sewing machines, batteries, wall clock, air gun and an mp3 player… They made a video and we did not have any clue.”

According to Sajid’s family, at about 10.30 pm, police arrested Sajid near Fatime Masjid and presented him in front of them. “Sajid was brought in front of us for identification and later taken away… They said that he was making bombs,” said Mehzabi.

Delhi Police said that he was in touch with handler of Jaish-e-Muhammad, had made IEDs with the help of iron pipes, timers and explosive material. Police also said there was a blast at Sajid’s workshop and had injured his hand. However, his family members claimed otherwise. “Hot milk had spilled on his hand while he was having an argument with me. Later, I had put ointment… He is a very soft spoken person and never indulges in any wrong activities. He cannot be a part of this,” said Mehzabi.

A few kilometres away, in Ghaziabad’s Loni area, three sisters awaited for news of their 24-year-old brother Sameer Wednesday evening. “Our parents have been at Lodhi Colony since morning. They have not been able to meet him,” said his sister Sumaila.

A Class VIII dropout, Sameer, was picked up by Delhi Police Special Cell officers late Tuesday night. “There was a wedding in the locality. My elder cousin was standing outside the house at about 2.30-3 am when policemen approached him and asked for directions… They entered the house after that. They checked all the closets, books and every corner of the house. They confiscated Sameer’s phone and took him away. They did not give us any contact number and told us Sameer was being taken away for some laptop case. My brother does not even have a laptop,” said Sumaila.

Sameer’s family claimed for the last couple of years he had joined his father as a tailor. “To help our family, he dropped out of school and started working with my father at a sewing shop in a garments factory to ensure that his three sisters receive decent education,” said Sumaila, sitting in their one-room house. The room, approximately 10 feet X 8 feet, is shared by the family of six ? Ahmed, his parents and three sisters.
- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/arrests-of-sameer-sajid-a-mistake-delhi-police-were-wrongly-informed-say-families-2785077/