More arrests likely in hijacking case

NEW DELHI, JANUARY 7: The arrest of the four Mumbai-based ISI agents in the Indian Airlines hijacking case have propelled the investigatio...

NEW DELHI, JANUARY 7: The arrest of the four Mumbai-based ISI agents in the Indian Airlines hijacking case have propelled the investigations and further developments — possibly more arrests in the matter — will take place shortly. Confirming this, Union Home Minister L K Advani, however, conceded that the swapping of three top militants for the hostages would give a “brief boost” to the militants in Jammu & Kashmir.

Advani said North Block had sought from Jammu & Kashmir and other States the legal status of the 33 Pakistani militants whose release was demanded by the hijackers. The move assumes significance, point out observers, in the wake of reports that several militants like Maulana Masood Azhar were acquitted by the trial courts of all major charges and were languishing in jails without a valid reason.

While it is still unclear what exactly would be the Government’s next step after ascertaining the legal position of these imprisoned militants, Advani himself did not elaborate it. But he stressed about the “initial disadvantages” in a democratic country (like India) where the main concern in these matters revolved around legitimacy and human rights values.

Another point Advani declined to elaborate was his earlier statement that releasing the hijackers had caused a setback to the BJP, though not to the Government. “That chapter is closed now,” he said, dismissing the query.

On the situation in the Valley, Advani held that the Centre was aware of it and the likely fallout of the militants’ release. Though talks were being held at all levels to gear up the security in State, there was no move to reinforce the forces there, he pointed out.

The eagerly awaited white paper on the ISI was also on the cards, the Home Minister added, but did not specify when exactly it would see the light of the day.

The Home Ministry, incidentally, is aware about the particular TV journalist in London who was approached telephonically from Mumbai on December 29 by one of the arrested agents. Even here, according to Advani, Pakistan’s involvement comes to light. “A call came from Karachi and the Mumbai operative was told to get in touch with this journalist and inform him that the plane would be blown up in the event of the Indian Government not acceding to the hijackers’ demands. We know the journalist’s name,” he said.

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Following the interception of the telephone call, Mumbai police was told to work vigorously on the lead, Advani said. On December 30, four ISI agents were nabbed in Mumbai. But it was only on January 2 that the investigators got their hands on the hijackers’ photographs, seized at the instance of the arrested persons.

Maintaining that one of the arrested operatives was involved in a bank robbery, Advani said the Government deliberately withheld disclosing their names. “We did it because otherwise the hijackers might have demanded their release too,” he explained.

Advani does not see much harm coming from the “brief boost” the militants may have got after the hijacking episode. “Just as we got around them in Punjab, we will get around them elsewhere,” he remarked.