Man from Sudan held with sickle at Marina

A young man from Sudan, who remained in Chennai even after his dreams for a better life went awry, is now facing deportation after he was caught with a sickle at the Marina beach on Friday night. He was arrested after a few passers-by alerted the Police Control Room that a foreign national was roaming the beach with a weapon.

The Sudanese was identified as Mohammed Al Mustafa, a 26-year-old who had come to Tamil Nadu as a teenager to pursue a pharmacy course. According the police sources, Mustafa came to the State in 2010 and enrolled himself in a B Pharm course at a private college in Nagapattinam district. However, he dropped out of the course and returned to his native.

In a few years, Mustafa returned to the State to complete the course. But he discontinued yet again, this time due to not having enough resources to support his studies. Police suspect that he became addicted to liquor and marijuana. That was when he left Nagapattinam and came to Chennai in search of a job. When those efforts failed, he resorted to seeking alms outside the mosques in the 

city, police said.

On Friday night, members of public who were at Marina beach saw Mustafa carrying a sickle in his waistband. Alarmed by this, some of them alerted the police control room. A police team went to the spot immediately and secured him. He was then taken to the police station for further inquiry.

During questioning, the police realised that Mustafa was accused in a case now out on bail. He was arrested in connection with an assault case in Mangadu a few years ago, and was released on bail only recently.

According to the police, Mustafa was staying at the Marina beach, often behaving in an unusual manner. Police believe this could be when he is under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Now, Police sources said, they have approached the Sudan embassy to initiate the process to deport Mustafa.