Bangladesh student activist Mahdi Hasan, accused in Hindu cop’s murder, quizzed during Delhi visit; returned after Europe visa refusal

NEW DELHI: Bangladesh's hardline student activist Mahdi Hasan, accused of killing a Hindu police sub-inspector, Santosh Chowdhury, was in Delhi two days ago. However, he returned on his own after being refused a visa to Europe. He was briefly questioned by police amid a social media uproar. He stayed at a hotel in Paharganj on Feb 17. Authorities said that he was neither arrested nor detained, as he was not a wanted suspect in India, nor was there any such request from his home country. According to the owner of a Paharganj hotel where he stayed, Hasan arrived at 2 am and left the same day around 8.30 pm. He presented a Bangladeshi passport and told hotel staff that he was in the city to submit documents at the Finnish embassy. Immigration records confirm that Hasan left Bangladesh on Feb 16 and entered India on Feb 17, with stamps verifying both departures. During his stay, hotel staff noted that he behaved normally and showed no suspicious behaviour. "On Feb 17, police personnel questioned Hasan for about 30 minutes and then they left," the owner added. Hasan, a resident of Habiganj in Bangladesh, is facing charges in connection with the murder of the police officer there on Aug 5, 2024.