Thaindian News

Azamgarh (Uttar Pradesh), Feb 2 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh’s anti-terror squad (ATS) has taken into its custody Shehzad Ahmad alias Pappu- a key accused in the September 2008 Delhi serial blasts and the Batla House encounter.

Ahmed, who is said to be a militant belonging to the Indian Mujahideen terror outfit, was arrested from his native village on Monday evening.

There are reports that the accused Ahmed had undergone a training to fly planes from an institute in Bangalore and had surfaced as a leader of the module designated to execute aerial terror attacks.

The charge sheet filed against Shehzad says he had planted a bomb at Children’s Park near India Gate on September 13, 2008, which failed to explode. He is also on of the accused in the Ghaffar Market blast that took place the same day.

The police had recovered his passport at the Mujahideen hideout at L-18 Batla House. Shehzad was allegedly one of the two terrorists, who had fired back at the police during the raid that cost Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma his life.

Additional Director General (ADG) Law and Order Brij Lal said, “Delhi Police had set a prize money of Rs 5 lakh on Ahmed, the terrorist we arrested.”

The police claimed that he was also involved in encounters that took place a few days after the blasts.

ADG Law and Order further said, “The breakthrough came on some specific tip-offs from the special cell of the Delhi Police.”

“Shehzad was involved in arranging and planting of bombs at Karol Bagh, Greater Kailash, Tilak Marg and two places in Connaught Place and had managed to escape from Batla House when the police struck their suspected hideout there,” he added.

The investigating officials are hoping that the information provided by Shehzad would help them in getting hold of the other remaining absconders. (ANI)