India's most wanted man Abu Salem arrested in Portugal (LEAD) >From Indo-Asian News Service
New Delhi, Sep 20 (IANS) Abu Salem, India's most wanted criminal who had eluded law enforcement authorities for over a decade, has been arrested in Lisbon, the Portuguese capital, officials here confirmed. Salem, wanted for suspected involvement in the terror bomb attacks in Mumbai in 1993 and other high profile cases, was arrested by Portuguese authorities after they were tipped off by their Indian counterparts. Portuguese police arrested Salem Wednesday after India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) provided them proof of his identity after he was reportedly found travelling on a Pakistani passport, law enforcement officials said. Interpol has issued a 'Red Corner' notice against Salem seeking his arrest. "Salem is our biggest catch so far," said a top CBI official. The CBI had linked Salem, a former associate of mobboss Dawood Ibrahim who police say operates out of the Middle East and Pakistan, to several killings and extortion cases involving Bollywood film personalities. Top intelligence and CBI officials met Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani on Friday evening to discuss measures for bringing Salem back to India. India and Portugal do not have an extradition treaty but law enforcement officials believe this would not be an impediment to bringing him back to India to face a multitude of charges. Born in Sarai Mir village in Uttar Pradesh in 1968, Salem, the son a tailor, moved to Mumbai with his family in his childhood. He reportedly joined a criminal gang headed by Dawood Ibrahim's brother Anees while in his teens. CBI officials say Salem played a key role in obtaining explosives from Pakistan-based smugglers that were used in the terror bomb blasts in Mumbai that killed over 300 people. Salem fled India shortly after the bombings, and intelligence officials say he has since operated from safe houses in Nairobi, Lagos and the Middle East. CBI officials say Salem holds a Pakistani passport. --Indo-Asian News Service =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet =================================================================== For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead !
