City cops sent 80 Iranians back for ‘undesirable activities’ in 2011

Israel has alleged Iran’s involvement in the attack,but Indian investigation agencies have not named any country behind the incident yet. City police sources,however,said some suspects,possibly Iranians,have been held for questioning by the Delhi police after CCTV footage was obtained from the blast site.

Rakesh Maria,chief of the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS),too confirmed that they have sought information from Delhi police about the attack on the Israel diplomat’s car.

According to the Pune police,302 foreigners,including 80 Iranians,were made to leave India by the special branch of Pune police in 2011 for their alleged involvement in “undesirable activities”. Several Iranians were deported in 2010 too for similar reasons. One of them was Mostafa Safavi,a research student pursing his PhD on ‘Managing Crime in e-world’ from the University of Pune.

Safavi was suspected to be spying in Pune and was deported on August 10,2010. An investigation officer said Safavi was held following intelligence inputs that on the pretext of studies,he was befriending employees from IT firms in the city. He was also suspected to have visited these companies.

As per special branch figures,183 foreigners from 35 countries were issued leave India notices in 2011. They included 62 Iranians,18 from Yemen,15 from Bahrain,12 from Sudan,nine from Afghanistan and eight Koreans. Also,119 foreigners from 37 countries were deported in 2011. They included 18 Iranians,12 from Sudan,12 from Bahrain,nine from Yemen and eight Koreans.

A senior police officer said the Iran consulate in India complained to the Ministry of External Affairs (MeA) against the Pune police for deporting and issuing leaving India notices to a large number of their citizens staying in Pune. The officer said MeA was convinced that Pune police took action only against those who were found to have violated the law of the land.

Pune police have stepped up security around the Israeli centres in the city. Investigators suspect that German Bakery was chosen as a target because it is located close to the Jewish Chabbad House in Koregaon Park.