Tunda curse returns to Pilakhuwa whenever there is a blast

As Gulfam’s detention took place a day after the explosion at the High Court,and the fact that Gulfam belongs to Tunda’s village,everyone,including the local press,branded him as a “terror suspect”.

Tunda is wanted in India in 33 criminal cases,40 blasts in Delhi and neighbouring states that left 21 dead and over 400 injured.

Uttar Pradesh Special Director General of Police (law and order) Brij Lal further fuelled speculations by confirming that he was picked up by the Delhi Police for questioning. He maintained his stand when Newsline spoke to him on Monday.

“Two days (after Gulfam’s detention),I was told by Kavi Nagar police that they wanted to arrest my elder son Nafees in some robbery case so they had taken my younger son away. I still do not know where my elder son is. Since we live in Pilakhuwa,everyone,including the local press,started running stories that my son had been picked up in connection with the Delhi HC blasts. We have been ostracised now and everyone in the neighbourhood thinks we are terrorists. I have asked Gulfam not to go out as he might be picked by policemen again,” said Gulfam’s father Sharif,who raises cattle for livelihood.

Local residents said whenever there was a blast anywhere in the country,the village had visitors who identified themselves as policemen and intelligence officials.

Tunda’s younger brother Abdul Malik,who stays nearby,said,“Every time there is a blast,policemen come and ask for Tunda. I last saw him in 1993. I knew he was into terrorist activities. Though he was a school dropout,he was a genius and knew everything about bombs. He spoke 20 languages. He did not come home for seven years and told me he was somewhere in Indore.”

Mahmood Alam,who lives in the house where Tunda used to live,said,“The house was lying vacant for many years so I decided to move in here. It is routine for policemen to come here.”

Other residents said they give fake addresses for job applications. “When people hear we are from Pilakhuwa,they refuse us jobs,” said Abid Malik.

Tunda is still on the Interpol’s list. “He must have crossed over to Pakistan. Had we known that he was into anti-India activities we would have tried to stop him,” said a resident.