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DATE=1/6/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=INDIA/HIJACK ARRESTS-L
NUMBER=2-257834
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  India has arrested four people in connection 
with last month's hijacking of an Indian Airlines 
aircraft.  New Delhi also says the five hijackers of 
the plane have been identified as Pakistani nationals.  
Anjana Pasricha reports from New Delhi.
TEXT:  Home Minister Lal Krishna Advani told a news 
conference two Pakistanis, an Indian, and a Nepalese 
were arrested in Bombay, also known as Mumbai.  
According to Mr. Advani those arrested belong to the 
Islamic militant group known as Harkat-ul-ansar.  He 
described the suspects as key associates of the 
hijackers, and said information obtained from them has 
helped the Indian government establish the identity of 
the hijackers.
            /// INSERT ADVANI ACT ///
      The arrested persons have been interrogated, and 
      their interrogations have confirmed that all the 
      five (hijackers) are Pakistanis, that this was a 
      Pakistan operation executed with the assistance 
      of the Harkat-ul-ansar. 
            /// END ADVANI ACT ///
Mr. Advani says three of the hijackers are residents 
of the Pakistani city of Karachi.  The other two came 
from Bhawalpur and Sindh, also in Pakistan.  He says 
the identity of the hijackers proves Pakistan's 
involvement. 
Since the hijacking crisis was resolved last week, 
senior Indian ministers have accused Pakistan of being 
directly involved in the hijacking, but offered no 
evidence to back their claim.  Prime Minister Atal 
Behari Vajpayee has said he will urge major nations of 
the world to declare Pakistan a terrorist state.
Pakistan has condemned the hijacking and denied any 
involvement in it.  Islamabad has called the Indian 
allegations a propaganda campaign against Pakistan. 
The Indian government freed three Kashmiri militants 
in exchange for the hostages.  The three are reported 
to have crossed into Pakistan, but the location of the 
hijackers has not been identified.   (SIGNED) 
NEB/AP/RAE
06-Jan-2000 08:46 AM EDT (06-Jan-2000 1346 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.