Hubballi: Police Commissioner N. Shashi Kumar has issued a clarification following a letter from MLA Arvind Bellad, who had raised concerns about suspicious individuals—allegedly from Pakistan—seen near the Jannat Nagar Mosque in Dharwad. Responding to the MLA’s request, the Commissioner confirmed that an inquiry was conducted and the individuals in question were not foreigners, but Indian nationals from Gujarat.
Addressing the media on Monday, Commissioner Shashi Kumar said that based on the MLA’s input, a team—including officers in plain clothes—visited Jannat Nagar and Arogya Nagar to verify the identities of 21 individuals. Upon investigation, it was found that these individuals were from Surat district in Gujarat, specifically from the jurisdiction of Atwa Police Station.
“They had come to Bilal Mosque and Yousafana Mosque to undergo religious training and study religious practices,” he said.
He added that the police verified their Aadhaar cards, Indian passports, and other identification documents. The details were also cross-checked with the local police in Gujarat, confirming that all individuals were Indian citizens.
“These individuals are between the ages of 15 and 56, and some also possess Indian passports,” the Commissioner noted. He further stated that the Chapparband Mosque, a nodal center for religious education, had also verified their backgrounds before allowing them to participate in religious training programs.
On Monday, HDMC Zonal Assistant Commissioner Shankar Patil and Tahsildar Doddappa Hugar visited the mosques, interacted with the individuals, and confirmed their identities. The same findings will be officially communicated to MLA Arvind Bellad.
Earlier, the MLA had written a letter to the Commissioner expressing suspicion that Pakistani nationals might be residing in the Jannat Nagar area, and claimed that local residents were anxious about their presence. He had urged the police to investigate the matter thoroughly.
