My son is innocent, says detained medico's mother

Bangalore, July 4: Shell-shocked Qurrathulan, mother of Indian medico Mohammed Haneef, who was detained by Australian police in connection with the Glasgow car bomb attacks, said her son is innocent and she is praying to the Almighty for his safe release. Grief-stricken Qurrathulan and her daughter Sumayya, who spoke to mediapersons at their Pillanna Garden residence in the city, pleaded ignorance and refused to accept reports that he had links with terrorist outfits.

Sumayya, narrating the qualities of her 'intelligent and meritorious' brother, said he is a family-loving person and did not have many friends. He was always interested in coming out with flying colours as far as his studies were concerned.

About his religious practices, she said, ''he was as good as any other Indian Muslim who performed 'namaz' five times a day and used to observe fast during 'Ramzaan' month. However, he was never over-zealous as far as religion was concerned''.

Haneef (27) was supposed to have come to the city this week to see his newborn daughter. ''He had telephoned his brother to come to the Airport to receive him and that was the last communication the family received so far,'' the family members told.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka police have begun collecting information on Haneef. The state police, however, maintained that they had not received any communication from the British police about London blast plot.

The state police have also visited the residence of Haneef and spoke to the doctor's mother and other family members.

The Australian High Commission had a telephonic talk with the family members to ascertain their links which Haneef had revealed to the police in that country.

Haneef, a doctor at Halton Hospital in Cheshire, was picked up from Brisbane by the Australian police on a tip-off from Scotland Yard police on Monday night.

UNI

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