Satish Dhawan Space Centre driver picked up with maps

Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, May 26 (UNI) A bus driver working for the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota has been taken into custody for possessing some maps containing crucial information about the centre.

The CISF personnel, in-charge of the security, picked up Shahir Ahmed when he was moving under suspicious circumstances yesterday and found some maps in his pocket. He was later handed over to the Nellore district police.

Nellore Superintendent of Police N Suryanarayana, who reached Sriharikota last night, took stock of the situation.

Inquiry revealed Ahmed belonged to Muthukuru Mandal of Brahmadevi village in the district. Ahmed's grandfather was a non-technical staff member of the centre.

Ahmed worked as driver with a private transport agency contracted by ISRO.

Talking to UNI today, Mr Suryanarayana said a case had been registered against Ahmed but clarified he was not arrested.

''We are probing all aspects, including the ISI angle,'' he added.

Meanwhile, Ahmed's family members claimed he was innocent and had no links with any criminal gangs.

UNI ASJ GM MSJ PC1919