Published: August 05, 2007

Arrested Ugandan Army Officer Held Under Passport and Foreigners Act.

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Srinagar, Aug 5:

The arrested Ugandan army officer booked under Passport and Foreigners Act, handed over to local police by the Indian army.

A Ugandan army officer identified as Lieutenant Colonel Rashid Sewwna Dyaiana alias Rashid Hassan, 42, son of Mohammad Yufsurf of Kampala, capital of Uganda, was arrested near an army cantonment in Jammu on Friday.

Police said he was carrying photocopies of his travel documents and those of another Nigerian national.

In custody, the Ugandan army officer told his army interrogators that he is a retired Lieutenant Colonel from Uganda's army.

Sources said that a photocopy of a visa (Number 900130 valid upto December 13, 2008) was also recovered from his possession, which also has his passport number B0497444, issued by the government of Uganda and valid up to December 2015.

However, he failed to produce the original documents claiming that the same were held by authorities in Mumbai, where he was residing before coming to the state.

After his arrest, he was under the custody of the Indian army, who questioned him. After three days of questioning, he was handed over to local police for further questioning.

According to top police officers, the foreigner has been booked under the Passport and Foreigners Act.

Top police officers continue to question him about the purpose of his visit to the restive state of Jammu and Kashmir. "We are trying to ascertain the reason why he decided to visit Kashmir", a top police officer said, adding, "It is being ascertained why he chose Kashmir, why not any other place".

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.