18-month boy a militant? CID told to verify
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Rajouri, November 2
It may sound ridiculous, but it is true. The Crime Investigation Department (CID)
has asked it officials here to verify the involvement of an 18-month-old baby boy in any militancy or criminal activity for allowing him to accompany his mother on Haj. CID officials carried out the verification within a few days and gave the baby a
clean chit.

The verification report which followed the visit by local CID officials to the house of Muhammad Hussain, father of the baby Rahim Qudrat of Sawani, near here, who is to accompany its mother Shamim Begum on Haj, has been reportedly submitted to the CID headquarters in Jammu.

Interestingly, the baby boy's verification was sought by the CID headquarters, even after his mother's verification was already done and she was cleared.

CID officials said they had to follow the directions of the higher officials, but they also pointed out that the exercise was a wastage of time.

"How can an 18-month-old boy join any militant outfit or get involved in any criminal activity when he doesn't even know how to speak properly ?" asked a local CID official not wanting to be named.

The baby boy was also subjected to police verification,which again gave him a clean chit. Official sources said Shamim Begum had applied for Haj and wanted to take her son along with her.

"After verifying the credentials, security and intelligence agencies cleared Shamim and her son. They were asked to deposit the money for the pilgrimage", the sources added. She deposited the requisite money with the DC's office.

Despite repeated efforts, the officer concerned at the CID headquarters at Jammu couldn't be contacted.