Country first, not son, says Kendrapada LeT handler’s father

Even as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) took Kendrapada youth Habibur Rahman alias Habib on remand to interrogate him for his alleged links with terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the Patkura and the Kendrapada police questioned his family at their native village Tendaguda in the district on Tuesday.

Habib’s family members informed police that he was not in touch with them since 2006 and should be punished if found involved in any terror activities. Habib’s father Mir Rahinuddin said, “For me, my country and State and even my village come first. If my son is found guilty, he should be punished as per the law of the country. If I am found guilty, I should be punished too.”

“Habib left home thirty years ago. He was initially staying in Mumbai and then left for Saudi Arabia. When I went to Saudi in 2004 for a pilgrimage, he came and met me there. In 2006, he even came home with one of his two wives and his children. After that, we have not been in touch; neither does he help us in any way,” said Rahinuddin.

He further said he has no idea how and why Habib came in touch with antisocial elements in Saudi Arabia.

Habib’s brother said, “About six months ago, NIA officials had called us to Patkura for interrogation. They had also summoned us to meet them in New Delhi. We had gone to New Delhi before six months and met the NIA officials.”

“Habib came home in 2006 for my marriage. After that we are not in touch,” he added.

According to reports, Habib was one of the handlers of LeT terrorist Shaikh Abdul Naeem alias Nomi, who was arrested in 2007 while trying to infiltrate two Pakistani and one Kashmiri terrorist into India via Bangladesh. He managed to flee from police custody but was again nabbed in 2017.