Mehmood died of illness, no torture inflicted: India to Pak

Pakistan on Wednesday had expressed “deep shock and anger” over the death of Mehmood in what it termed “mysterious circumstances” and asked the Indian government to specify the charges under which he had been detained.

Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Sadiq also said it was regrettable that India did not inform Pakistan’s High Commission in Delhi about the arrest of Mehmood, whose body was handed over to Pakistani authorities at Wagah on Monday.

The Indian High Commission’s statement, however, said “neither country officially notifies the other when its nationals are arrested”. It also expressed concern “at the disinformation being spread in various media reports” following the repatriation of Mehmood’s body.

The statement said Mehmood went to India on a four-day cricket visa in April 2005 to watch a game. He then “disappeared in the country” and was arrested by police in Faridabad on May 17, 2006, more than a year after his visa had expired.

“Sensitive documents were recovered from Mr Mehmood’s possession, which he was carrying to Delhi to deliver to some persons who were travelling to Pakistan by the Samjhauta Express,” it said.