Terror suspect engineer's wife seeks fast track trial

Patna, July 1(IANS) A day after Saudi authorities confirmed to the CBI that missing Bihar engineer and terror suspect Fasih Mehmood was in their custody, his wife demanded a fast track trial of his case.

"My husband is innocent. He is neither guilty nor involved in any terror activities. I demand that the government of India order a fast track trial of his case," Fasih's wife Nikhat Parveen told IANS over telephone Sunday.

She said that only a fast track trial in court would help her and Fasih's family members to get justice. "We will not sit silent. After all, my husband is a victim of human rights violations," she added.

Nikhat Parveen wondered as to how top Indian authorities, including union Home Minister P. Chidambaram and officials of the external affairs ministry, could be in the dark about Fasih's whereabouts till last week.

"It is a matter of serious concern for every citizen of the country," she said.

Nikhat questioned Chidambaram's remarks that Fasih was not in the custody of Indian authorities. "Chidambaram must have information that he was in the custody of Saudi authorities. After all, he is the home minister of the country."

Thirty-five-years-old Fasih, who hails from a village in Darbhanga district of Bihar, was reportedly arrested in Saudi Arabia May 14 for alleged terror links in India.