Times of India, Shillong :Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Joint Secretary General Salahuddin Ahmed, who was arrested and lodged at the undertrial prisoners (UTP) cell at the Shillong Civil Hospital for entering India without valid documents recently, is likely to be pushed back to Bangladesh, a source said.The Bangladeshi politician, who was arrested under the Foreigners’ Act on May 11 from the Golf Links area in the city, is undergoing treatment for kidney, liver and heart ailments.”We will go strictly by law and produce him in court once the hospital issues his release order,” said Meghalaya DGP Rajiv Mehta. Asked about reports that Ahmed was planning to go to Singapore once he is released, he added, “He can’t be taken to Singapore just like that. The court will take the decision.”Mehta said police would seek his custody to find out how he entered India or who brought him here without valid documents. “We have not been able to talk to him,” he added.The DGP said police are yet to receive any direction from the CBI for initiating any process for his extradition. He added that if the court gives any such order, Salahuddin will be taken to the international border at Dawki and handed over to BSF officers, who in turn will ask Border Guards Bangladesh to take him in their custody.Section 14 of the Foreigners’ Act, under which Salahuddin has been booked, provides imprisonment for a term which may extend up to five years. It may be mentioned that the Dhaka unit of the Interpol has issued a ‘red corner’ notice against the BNP leader.Meanwhile, Ahmed’s relatives and associates, including a BNP functionary who are in the city, are looking for experienced criminal lawyers to defend him in court where he is likely to be produced on Monday, a source said.
