New Delhi: A 21-year-old Afghan national who allegedly stole valuables, including a license for an AK 47 rifle, from a member of Parliament in Afghanistan who is in Delhi for medical treatment, has been arrested, police said today.
The accused, identified as Noorullah Arab, a resident of Mazar-e-Sharif in Afghanistan, came to India in March last year and rented a room at southeast Delhi’s Bhogal area, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ravindra Yadav said.
The complainant, Dr Syed Ghulam Farooq Mirranay, a member of Parliament in Afghanistan, arrived in Delhi for medical treatment on Sunday and Noorullah, who got to know about his visit, contacted him claiming to be a translator, said police.
On Sunday, he received Mirranay at IGI Airport here and accompanied him to a hotel in Lajpat Nagar, from where he allegedly fled with Mirranay’s valuable belongings, which include his wallet, mobile phone, around USD 4600 cash, credit cards and three arms licenses, said police.
“As one of the arms license was of an AK 47 rifle, it alarmed the authorities because of the possibility of misuse by anti-socials and terrorists in view of the coming Republic Day celebrations,” Yadav said.
The Afghan MP went to the Afghanistan embassy and they helped him in getting an FIR registered. The case was handed over to the Delhi Police Crime Branch, following which a team was formed and the accused was tracked down by the wee hours on Sunday, police said.
On being interrogated, Noorullah told the police that he would introduce himself as a translator to tourists from Afghanistan and arrange their accommodation in Delhi.
Then he used to develop intimacy with them and steal their valuables on getting an oppotunity. Most of his victims did not lodge complaint with police to avoid legal hassle. police said.
Noorullah, who did his matriculation from Pakistan, stayed here with his mother, sister, who is a student here, and elder brother, also a translator, police said.— (PTI)