NIA Seeks Custody of Arrested Ship Crew
KOCHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday filed a petition before the NIA Court for custody of the 12 Iran and Pakistan nationals arrested from the vessel Barooki that was intercepted off the Alappuzha coast.
The court will hear the petition on Tuesday.
The NIA filed the petition for custody of Abdul Qadin Baloch, Pesuz Baloch, Zahid Baloch, Wahid Baloch and Ihalim Bakshi Baloch, all hailing from the Balochistan province of Pakistan, as well as Iran nationals Abdul Majeed Baloch, Shahzad Baloch, Hussein Baloch, Jamshad Baloch, Mohammed Baloch, Ahmad Baloch and Quasim Baloch.
The first remand period of the accused in the case has already completed. However, considering the national security aspect and the involvement of Pakistani citizens, the agency require the custody of the accused for proceeding with the investigation. The NIA sources said if custody is not granted, permission would be sought for interrogating the accused in jail.
Meanwhile, the court will consider the request filed by the accused for permission to contact their family members back home.
The request was made by Hindi-speaking Iranian nationals, Shahzad Baloch and Quasim Baloch, when they were produced before the NIA court the other day. Then, the court had asked them to file a written petition.
Vessel Barooki was intercepted of the Alappuzha coast recently, and its 12 crew members were arrested. The police also recovered Pakistani identity cards and satellite phone from the ship.