PANJIM: Three persons picked up on Monday night, the eve of Republic Day, were being interrogated by the Anti-Terrorist Squad of Goa Police.
While the police brass has maintained silence over the detentions, a senior police official confirmed that three persons, including a Syrian, a Yemeni and a Nigerian have been detained by police and are being interrogated by the ATS.
ATS is investigating the matter and interrogating all the three against the backdrop of the letter received at the State secretariat on January 13, 2016, threatening Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. The letter was suspected to have been written by ISIS.
All three were picked up from a casino at Baga. Calangute police are also interrogating them and have ruled out the theory of them being terror suspects. Calangute police have booked Syrian national Tusai Al Hamie (28) and Yemeni national Navil Mohmmad Humbi (30) for overstaying. The Calangute Police Inspector said that have been remanded to seven days police custody.
Admitting there have been some detentions, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said, “Police have detained one person last night, interrogation is on.” He refused to divulge further details saying, “Security is an issue which cannot be discussed in public and I would request you to not divulge any details in this case. The police and government are working on the same.”
Inspector General of Police Sunil Garg said a Syrian national is being interrogated. “We have detained a Syrian national for interrogation,” he told reporters.
Garg said the Syrian and Yemeni were taken into custody Monday night. “His visa has expired and he has been overstaying,” he added.
Goa Police also enhanced security at all vital installations and important places in the State after the ISIS threat and the arrests on Monday.
Gun totting policemen have been posted at all important places, including bus stands, railways stations, temples, churches, beaches etc.
Considering the peak tourist season and other terror incidents in the country and the letter received at the State Secretariat, security had already been beefed up in the State and it was enhanced for the Republic Day, Garg said.
