Delhi encounter: 2 killed, 1 arrested

BREAKING NEWS

New Delhi: A team of the Special Cell of Delhi Police killed two suspected terrorists in an encounter on Friday in Jamia Nagar area of South District in New Delhi.

Five suspected terrorists, holed up inside House No L-18, Batla House in Jamia Nagar, exchanged heavy fire with the police when the team tried to storm the house, police said.

In the ensuing gunbattle two gunmen were killed while two managed to escape. Police managed to arrest one gunman, Saif. He has been taken to an undisclosed location for interrogation, police officials said.

All the suspected terrorists are around 22 years old.

One of the dead has been identified as Atiq alias Basheer and is said to be an associate of Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) activist Tauqeer. The name of the other slain man is Fakhruddin. Police officials said the team went to the area looking for Atiq.

Tauqeer is believed to be behind the July 26 Ahmedabad serial blasts and is also wanted in connection with September 13 bomb blasts in Delhi.

Police also recovered an AK 47 rifle and two pistols along with some diaries with codes from the house. An FIR under Section 307 (attack on police party) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered in the Jamia Nagar police station.

Special Cell Joint Commissioner Karnail Singh confirmed, "There were a total of five terrorist at L-18. Two have been shot dead and one has been arrested while two managed to escape."

Three police officials were also injured in the encounter. Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma, who led the team, a head constable and one constable were injured in the heavy exchange of fire. Sharma, who was hit but a bullet in his abdomen and is in a critical condition, has been admitted at Holy Family Hospital along with constable Rajkumar.

Head Constable Balwant has admitted at the AIIMS Trauma Centre.

Police official also said they got the lead on Thursday after interrogating Ahmedabad serial bomb blast suspect Abu Bashar.

Bashar identified the house in Jamia Nagar where he along with Delhi serial blasts mastermind Mohammad Subhan Qureshi had taken shelter.