NEW DELHI: After repeatedly blocking United Nations sanctions against Maulana Masood Azhar, head of the terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammad, China has prevented the issuance of a Red Notice against Salafi preacher Zakir Naik, who is wanted in India for terrorist activities.
The current president of Interpol is China’s Meng Hongwei, a trusted lieutenant of Chinese President Xi Jinping who could have been instrumental in blocking the Indian request to the global police body to issue a Red Notice against Naik, top sources in Interpol said.
Meng is said to have been instrumental in the arrest by Egyptian authorities of nearly three dozen Uyghurs wanted in China. The Red Notices against the Uyghurs were issued at the behest of China, and Meng had pursued the matter with the Egyptian government for the execution of the Notices, the sources said.
Agencies in India suspect that Malaysia could also have backed Naik’s case before Interpol. The Malaysian government suspects that India was instrumental in a pro-democracy movement three years ago in that country which irked the ruling regime. This could also be the reason why Malaysia granted permanent residency to Naik. India is planning to request the Malaysian government for his extradition.
“The NIA’s request for a Red Notice against Zakir Naik was not accepted by Interpol as the charge sheet had not been filed when the request was submitted to the Interpol headquarters. Now NIA will submit a fresh request to Interpol as a charge sheet has been filed in the NIA court concerned in Mumbai,” National Investigation Agency (NIA) IG Alok Mittal said.
Naik was declared a proclaimed offender in July this year by a Mumbai court and was chargesheeted by the NIA in connection with a terror case on October 26. Naik was chargesheeted for “deliberate and malicious acts” to outrage religious feelings by promoting enmity and hatred between different religious groups in India.
China blocked Interpol Red Notice against Naik
The current president of Interpol is China’s Meng Hongwei, a trusted lieutenant of Chinese President Xi Jinping who could have been instrumental in blocking the Indian request to the global police body to issue a Red Notice against Naik, top sources in Interpol said.
Meng is said to have been instrumental in the arrest by Egyptian authorities of nearly three dozen Uyghurs wanted in China. The Red Notices against the Uyghurs were issued at the behest of China, and Meng had pursued the matter with the Egyptian government for the execution of the Notices, the sources said.
Agencies in India suspect that Malaysia could also have backed Naik’s case before Interpol. The Malaysian government suspects that India was instrumental in a pro-democracy movement three years ago in that country which irked the ruling regime. This could also be the reason why Malaysia granted permanent residency to Naik. India is planning to request the Malaysian government for his extradition.
“The NIA’s request for a Red Notice against Zakir Naik was not accepted by Interpol as the charge sheet had not been filed when the request was submitted to the Interpol headquarters. Now NIA will submit a fresh request to Interpol as a charge sheet has been filed in the NIA court concerned in Mumbai,” National Investigation Agency (NIA) IG Alok Mittal said.
Naik was declared a proclaimed offender in July this year by a Mumbai court and was chargesheeted by the NIA in connection with a terror case on October 26. Naik was chargesheeted for “deliberate and malicious acts” to outrage religious feelings by promoting enmity and hatred between different religious groups in India.
China blocked Interpol Red Notice against Naik