Flatmates free, Delhi cops say they were not ‘really’ detained

Police, however, claimed today that Mansoor and Sajid were never ‘‘really detained.’’ According to the police, after the shoot-out, the two had apparently locked their door from inside. This made the police ‘‘suspicious’’ and they were taken for ‘‘sustained questioning.’’

After their interrogation, police say, Mansoor and Sajid, were asked to stay at a friend’s place for the night on the condition that they wouldn’t tell anyone, even their parents, where they were. The next morning, they were taken once more to the Special Cell and interrogated.

Mansoor and Saihd reportedly told the police that the ‘‘militants’’ never spoke to them. ‘‘The two also said that all of them had cellphones and would never even share their dinner with them which made Mansoor and Sajid suspicious.

Because of this, they also gave the landlord an ultimatum and were going to vacate the flat on December 31. In fact, a day before the Red Fort shoot-out, they had confronted Abu Shamal and asked him where he was from. But Shamal had apparently just waved them away.’’

Police claimed the two had been detained for so long because their identities had to be verified, from Aligarh, Amroha and Srinagar.

However, at the Daryaganj police station where they were supposed to be, an entire entourage waited to take them home. The present Imam, his younger brother and father were there to lend support.

As the car carrying Mansoor and Sajid and police in plainclothes pulled up in front of the station, there was tension in the air. Both men looked scared and nervous. They were then packed off in a Sumo for Aligarh, along with Mansoor’s father Mohammed Shamshad.

When asked about the interrogation, Mansoor hid his face in a black scarf and asked Sajid to do the same. Shamshad says that the police have scared the two and have told them that the militants could come looking.