Wanted Afghan militant held in HP

Shimla, Nov 7: The Himachal Pradesh Police has arrested an Afghan national, wanted in his country, from a rented house in Solan town of Himachal Pradesh yesterday, district SP Diljit Thakur said here today.

Noor Agha, who had been living with his wife and four children in a house in Solan, about 45 km from here, has been taken into custody under the Foreigner's Act, Mr Thakur told the sources.

''Agha, wanted in a case in Afghanistan, had been allowed to stay in India till December 2006 according to his papers. However, we are verifying the veracity of the papers too,'' he said.

He added that Himachal Police had been looking for Agha after the Afghan embassy informed them that he might be hiding anywhere in the state.

Agha is the fourth foreigner to be arrested in the state this year besides three foreigners arrested from Dharamshala earlier this year.

UNI