ISI agent remanded in police custody

Suspected ISI agent Abdul Kasim, who was nabbed from the New Market area on Wednesday, has been remanded in police custody till November 24, following which he would be taken to Mekhliganj in Cooch Behar district, where the espionage charges against him were filed.

Deputy Commissioner Detective Department Jawed Shamim said on Thursday Kasim8217;s interrogation would be taken over by the Mekhliganj police, after producing him in a court there. 8220;The police custody is essentially a transit remand. It is actually a case for the police there,8221; Shamim said.

Kasim, alias Nazrul Islam, had fled from a Rajasthan court lock-up five years ago. A Red Corner notice had been issued in his name. The 52-year-old Bangladeshi national was arrested in Jaisalmer by the Rajasthan Police on September 9, 2002 under the Official Secrets Act for possessing secret military documents. He had also admitted during interrogation that he supplied secret documents to the ISI.