Key Dawood aide in mind,India to ink extradition treaty with Thailand

Such is the worry on the Indian side that the matter has been raised at political levels,including with the Thai foreign minister when he visited India. The Thai government could provide no specific assurance in Zingada’s case,but this provoked discussions on an extradition treaty.

And even as the case is proving to be a huge legal-cum-diplomatic effort for New Delhi,India has managed to sew up an extradition treaty with Thailand – a key highlight of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s daylong visit to Bangkok Thursday – in an effort to pre-empt any Pakistani attempt in the future to put a hold on a detainee wanted in India.

The agreement will be signed during the visit.

After the treaty,sources said,India will not require to prove the identity of its fugitives the way it is being necessitated in Zingada’s case. More importantly,Indian documents will be recognised to initiate extradition.

Zingada’s case is similar to the problems India encountered in trying to bring back Zabiuddin Ansari from Saudi Arabia. In that case,although both sides have entered into an extradition treaty it is still not effective because Riyadh is yet to ratify it.

Thailand has been a destination for the Indian underworld,particularly due to its easier visa regime. Zingada had been tasked by Dawood’s right-hand man Chhota Shakeel to eliminate Rajan. While Zingada managed to have a shot at Rajan,the latter escaped and then fled from hospital to avoid deportation to India.

While Singh is unlikely to raise the matter at his level,sources said this could figure in discussions among officials as Indian intelligence agencies as well as the Mumbai Police are keen not to lose Zingada to Pakistan.

Also,this once again bares Pakistani efforts to shield Dawood and his key aides,sources said.