Amritsar, April 29
Railway Customs authorities at Attari faced a piquant situation today as the 178-strong Pakistani Muslim religious jatha refused to board the train en route to Roorkee (UP) demanding release Mr Mohammed Khalid, a member of the jatha, who was detained for
carrying Rs 4,000 in fake Indian currency.
The Pakistani jatha arrived this afternoon by the Samjhauta Express from Lahore to offer prayers at ‘Hazarat Khawaja Alahuddin Ali Dargah. During random checking, an alert Customs officer found that one of them was carrying fake Indian currency. He was detained for questioning which later led to major
confrontation.
The leader of the jatha insisted that the detained member should be released as he had been duped by a money changer at Lahore since he was not familiar with the Indian currency notes. The customs authorities refused to relent and the
jatha members sat on dharna to protest against the detention.
As arguments and counter arguments failed to defuse the situation, the jatha member decided to defer their journey to Roorkee.
The Station Master, Mr S.K. Madaan, while taking to The Tribune said special canteen arrangement had been made to feed the
jatha.
