Indian worker from Kurdistan arrested at Delhi airport

While the worker, who is Muslim, was arrested, two of his colleagues, both Sikhs, who work with him in Erbil, were allowed to proceed.

An Indian worker travelling to the Kurdistan Autonomous Region in Iraq was taken into custody at the Delhi international airport on Sunday morning.

The 31-year-old passenger, who is Muslim, was travelling to Erbil, capital of the KAR, from his home state of Bihar. He was allegedly stopped at immigration after an anonymous phone call received at the airport claimed that he worked for ISIS in Iraq. He was taken to the airport police station for interrogation.

Two of his colleagues, both Sikhs, who work with him in Erbil, were allowed to proceed on their journey.

The man has been working as a crane operator in Erbil since 2011. Part of his remuneration package includes 28 days leave every six months, which time he spends with his family in Bihar.

He has been working in Iraq since 2011 when ISIS did not exist. Moreover, he works in the KAR which is out of bounds for ISIS. Kurdistan is also at war with ISIS and part of the US-led campaign against the murderous terror outfit.

Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan, president, All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat, an umbrella body of Indian Muslim organisations, spoke to Gagan Bhaskar, the officer in charge at the Delhi airport police station who confirmed that the man was at his police station, but refused to provide any further details.

Image used for representational purposes only.