The Hindu : National : Kafeel’s family offers cooperation

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Monday, Jul 09, 2007
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National

Kafeel’s family offers cooperation

Sharath S. Srivatsa, Bageshree S., Afshan Yasmeen

Karnataka police collecting data

BANGALORE: The family of Kafeel Ahmed and Sabeel Ahmed, the two brothers linked to the Glasgow terror attacks, has offered to cooperate with the investigating agencies.

According to sources, Zakia Ahmed and Maqbool Ahmed, parents of the siblings made the offer to the Bangalore police when they took them for interrogation on Friday.

B.T. Venkatesh, one of the two lawyers helping the family, said, “British police are doing a serious and clear investigation and will get in touch with the family at an appropriate time. The family has so far had not heard from them.”

According to him, the family has not been contacted by the British authorities, and all that it knew was that Dr. Sabeel Ahmed was under detention.

He, however, said that the Karnataka police were collecting data on the links of the siblings with the terror attack and compiling a report, and they would make an announcement at an appropriate time. The Mumbai-based Lawyers’ Collective had requested Mr. Venkatesh to meet the family and offer legal assistance. “Either the identification would be based on the available documents or a member of the family would be summoned to identify Kafeel Ahmed and Sabeel Ahmed. In this case, the British Government has not contacted the family so far,” he added.

It is understood that Dr. Zakia suffers from diabetes and Dr. Maqbool suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, and that the family has been shattered by the news of their children’s suspected involvement in the terror attack.

“The constant glare of the media on their residence on 26th Cross Banashankari 2nd Stage has invaded their privacy and restricted their movements. The attention given is as if the entire family was making bombs,” said a source.

Confident

The family of Mohammed Haneef has expressed confidence that Dr. Haneef would be released on Monday night. “We are not able to tell you the source of this information, but we are certain that he will be with us soon,” his brother Mohammed Shoaib told The Hindu on Sunday.

Mr. Mohammed Shoaib also said that they were unable to read the newspapers as they could not venture out of the house.

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