Gujarat ATS nabs a Afghan national staying in Ahmedabad illegally since 15 years

AHMEDABAD:

Gujarat ATS

on Thursday held an Afghan national Sardarkhan Pathan, 55, staying illegally in Mirzapur area of the city for about 15 years. ATS sources said the accused had obtained bogus Indian Identification documents such as Aadhar Card, Pan card, Voter ID and Rationing Card.

SP, ATS Imtiaz Shaikh said they have booked him under the Foreigners Act and Passport Act.

"We have recovered two Indian

Passports

, one copy of a document with Symbol of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Islamic Republic of

Afghanistan

and a Pakistani identity card from him. We have sent him for pre- arrest Covid-19 test" added Shaikh.

ATS sources said that on tip off they searched the house at Shreyas Plaza in Mirzapur and found Pathan there.

Shaikh added that during primary interrogation Pathan confessed before them that he is from Afghanistan and is staying in Ahmedabad with his son since about 15 years.

"It also came to light during interrogation that Pathan was into the business of lending money on interest. He confessed before us that his father Haji Kutubuddin Pathan used to come to Ahmedabad to sell Asafetida and Shilajit frequently. During that time he came with his father to Pakistan and from there, via the Amritsar border crossed over to India" said Shaikh.

ATS sources said earlier he used to live in Chandan Talavadi in Dariapur and obtained bogus Indian Identity documents- based on which he obtained an Indian Passport. "We are checking his antecedents and verifying if Pathan is involved in nefarious activities" added an ATS official.

Had travelled to Pakistan also

ATS sources said that Pathan, on Indian Passport obtained through bogus identity documents travelled to Pakistan sometime back and there he married for the second time and came back to India. "He used to travel to Pakistan frequently," added an ATS source.

Civil war in Afghanistan forced his family to shift to Pakistan

ATS sources said that as civil war had erupted in Afghanistan during the Taliban regime, Pathan's whole family shifted from Afghanistan to Pakistan and when the situation worsened in Pakistan they again went back to Afghanistan.