Medical tourists mistaken for IS suspects ‘deported’

They were Muslims. They were from Bangladesh. And they were visiting tourist places and temples in and around Chennai. Just those factors appeared to be reason enough for the duo to be viewed as IS suspects by the TN police. According to sources, two youngsters identified as Abdul Haq and Mohamed John Khan visited tourist spots around Chennai and posted pictures on social media. The posts caught the attention of ‘watch dogs’ who monitor online activities and they informed the police.

Based on information regarding ‘possible foreign militants’ in the city, a Q branch police team rushed to their lodge near Thousands Lights just before midnight on Tuesday and questioned them till Wednesday morning. However, it turned out that the two were in the city for medical treatment at a nearby corporate hospital.

As there was a language barrier, it took quite some time for the investigators to realise that their ‘tip-off’ was a false alarm. After going through the medical documents and repeatedly questioning them, the police team were convinced that they were not IS operatives. In order to avoid the embarrassment of detaining foreign nationals for questioning, the police decided to send the two men back to their country on Wednesday itself.

Sources said that as there was information about TN IS head Khaja Moideen having visited Bangladesh and Nepal to procure arms for a possible terror attack on India, they were naturally suspicious of the profile of the two men and immediately took them for questioning. There has been no complaint from the two men so far, who are said to have left the country.