Thursday, March 30 2006 15:51 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Varanasi: A Muslim cleric has been picked up by the Special Task Force from his residence in Allahabad for interrogation in connection with his alleged role in the terror attacks here, officials sources said today (Mar 30, 2006).

The cleric, identified as Waliullah, from the Islamabad locality under Phulpur police circle area of Allahabad was taken into custody by the STF team on Sunday night for interrogation in connection with his alleged role in the March 7 twin blasts in Sankat Mochan temple and Cantonment railway station here, based on reports of suspicious activities in the past, sources said.

STF picked up Walliullah as soon as he returned home following questioning by the Local Intelligence Unit and police officials at Phulpur police station, they said.

He is being interrogated at an undisclosed location amid charges that he and his family provided refuge to the terrorists in their house in 2001 following which he and his two brothers were booked under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code on sedition charges, the trial of which was still pending with the lower court in Allahabad district.

Meanwhile, Allahabad SSP Vijay Singh Meena told sources over phone that the alleged suspect in the terror attacks in Varanasi was missing from his house for past six days, but refused to confirm that he had been taken into custody by the STF team, which was probing the terror attacks.

Meena also said that Waliullah's family members had met him and requested his intervention to find out details of his location and also whether he was under the custody of the STF.