Bathinda tailor arrested for suspicion, family says he is innocent

ROORKEE: The family members of Raqib Khan, 32 -- who was recently arrested by Bathinda Cantonment Police with the assistance of local Army intelligence over alleged suspicious activities -- said they believed he was innocent. According to them, Raqib never engaged in any anti-national act and investigation will exonerate him.

They claimed that due to his limited formal education, Raqib unknowingly befriended a foreign national via Facebook or other social platforms, inviting scrutiny by security agencies. He studied up to Class 5.

Raqib was handed over to Bhatinda police and was produced in a local court on Tuesday. The court granted a three-day police remand for interrogation. According to sources, Raqib was under the surveillance of Army intelligence agencies for some time.

There are claims that sensitive photographs and information related to cantonment areas were found in his mobile phone. Police have sent his device for forensic analysis.

Following the arrest, police and local intelligence agencies were seen active in the village on Wednesday. Around five individuals from Raqib’s family and his community were questioned.

“As a precaution, we called a few of his relatives for questioning and later released them. If Punjab Police wish to share any information with us, we are ready to extend full cooperation," said SP (rural) SC Suyal.

Raqib hails from Dausni village in Laksar constituency of Haridwar and belongs to the Muslim Darji community. His entire family is engaged in the traditional tailoring profession and works across various cantonment areas in Punjab and other places. At the time of his arrest, Raqib was employed as a tailor in a shop inside Bathinda cantonment.

Dausni village, with a population of around 5,000, has about 1,000 Muslim residents. Among them, around 15 families are from the Darji community. All five of Raqib’s brothers are tailors by profession, and Raqib is the youngest among them. He is married and has two young children who live with the family in the village.

The family shares a long professional connection with Punjab. Nearly 60 years ago, Raqib’s grandfather migrated to Punjab to work as a tailor. His father, Mohammad Iqbal, followed his footsteps and worked in places like Kapurthala and Bathinda for 50 years. Being highly skilled in uniform tailoring, Iqbal’s five sons also chose the same profession.

After completing his primary education up to Class 5 in the village, Raqib began assisting his father in Bathinda. Following his father’s death seven years ago, Raqib took over the tailoring business in Bathinda and continued visiting the village occasionally. About 15 days ago, he returned to Bathinda after spending three to four weeks at home.

“We strongly believe that he will be proven innocent," said Shahzadi, sister-in-law of Raqib.


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