Militant says he was arrested earlier than police claims

PTI
Jul. 11, 2006

July 6th, Panaji: Producing press reports that quoted Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane, an alleged terrorist contested the police's claims about his arrest in a court here today.

Tarique Anwar Battlo told the court that he was arrested on March 3 from Margoa city and not from Margoa railway station on March 10 as was being claimed by police.

Goa Police had said Battlo was arrested on March 10 with a kg of RDX, grenades and a detonator at the railway station.

Police officials, revealing his confession, had stated that Battlo intended to blow up vital installations in the port town of Vasco. They alleged Battlo, a member of Tehriq-e- Mujahiddin, was wanted by Jammu and Kashmir Police.

Defending himself, Battlo told the fast track court that he was arrested on March 3 from Margao city and not while getting down from a train, as claimed by the police.

"The Chief Minister's March 8 statement made in connection with the Curchorem riots prove that I was already arrested. Where is the question of my alighting at the railway station on March 10 with RDX, grenades and detonators?" he argued.

"How did Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane come to know that I would be arrested two days later with explosives?" he said producing a newspaper cutting in court. A report had appeared in a section of the press quoting Rane that a terrorist was arrested, but this was later denied by the CM.

Battlo also submitted copies of what he claimed were a J-K High Court order acquitting him of criminal charges and a copy of the President's notification showing Tehriq-e- Mujahiddin is not a banned organisation.