Terrorism

New Delhi: Seven days after the serial blasts that paralysed the nerves of the Capital, the Delhi Police today gunned down two Indian Mujahideen militants and arrested one, after a series of confrontation that lasted for over half an hour at the Capital's Jamia Nagar area - a Muslim dominated region in South district. The militants killed in the encounter were identified as Atiq alias Bashir and Sajed.

Atiq, according to the police was the mastermind of all the blasts that took place in Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Delhi. The militant arrested, was identified as Mohammad Shaif. However, the police could not get hold of two militants, who managed to escape. One AK-47 rifle, two .30 bore pistols and two laptops were recovered from the room, the militants were reportedly staying for the past one month.

Acting on specific inputs, a team of the Delhi Police's Special Cell carried out a raid at the fourth floor of Batla House in L-18, Jamia Nagar at around 11 am today. But before the police team could read the situation, the terrorists opened fire and in retaliation, the police also started firing and within minutes two of five militants were killed. While one of the suspected terrorists was arrested, two others managed to flee.

The police fired around 22 rounds of bullets in a retaliation to the eight rounds of bullets fired by the terrorists. During the shoot out inspector Mohan Chand Sharma, who was leading the team received three bullet injuries and later succumbed at the Holy Family hospital. Head constable Balwant also received bullets injuries on the hand.

Briefing the media, Commissioner of Police, Yudhvir Singh Dadwal informed that Atiq was one of the key members, who had connection with the number of blasts across the country. "We have enough evidence against him, as the bombs he had planted were of similar in nature. He used to have two detonators fixed in a wooden frame with ammonia nitrate and small table timer to make a bomb," Dadwal informed.

"Atiq also had a very close connection with Tauquir. It was Tauquir, who had done the recce of the sites in Delhi before installing the explosives. On the day of Ahmedabad blasts, Atiq along with 12 others left Ahmedabad for Delhi. He was also seen in Jaipur on the day of Jaipur blast," the Commissioner said.