New Delhi: The number of Indians on
Interpol`s wanted list has swollen to over 650.
The global crime monitoring organisation has issued 656
red-alert notices against Indians or people of Indian origin
in the past five years, generally for crimes committed in
countries other than India.
A red alert or red corner notice obliges immigration and
police forces of all member countries to arrest the concerned
person and inform the authorities in his home country, or the
country where the crime was committed.
Interpol is the world`s largest international police
organisation, with 188 member countries.
Many of these wanted people are involved in acts of
terrorism or serious crimes like rape of a minor.
Out of the total of 656 red alert notices issued against
Indians between 2005 and May 2010, a highest of 150 were
issued last year followed by 133 in 2007 and 119 in 2006.
About 85 such notices were drawn in 2008 and 94 others in
2005, while 75 of them were issued between January and May
this year, the CBI, which acts as a nodal agency for
international policing in India, said in reply to an RTI
query.
The countries where the largest number of offences have
been reported include Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab
Emirates, Oman, USA, Hong Kong, Russia, Belarus, Egypt,
Australia and Belgium.
The offences include money laundering, tax evasion,
sexual harassment, disrupting railway traffic, mail fraud and
demanding dowry. At least 25 per cent of the offences relate
to overspeeding and road accidents.
Exercising his Right to Information, Ashwini Shrivastava
had asked for details of red alert notice issued against
people of Indian origin in the past five years including the
details of offences.
One of the Interpol notices names Haji Ibrahim Salim for
alleged involvement in a terrorist act, Shaikh Anwar for
allegedly waging war against a country, Kochipeedikayil
Shabeerkayil, Sabir Kochipeedikayil and Nazir Thadipeedikayil
for planting an explosive, Shaja Khan for allegedly planting
a bomb and Iqbal Bhatkal for his alleged involvement in
unlawful activities, it said.
PTI
