Delhi blast suspect, associate killed in fierce encounter

New Delhi, Sep 19 (PTI) Atiq, a militant wanted in
connection with the serial blasts in Delhi and Ahmedabad, and
his associate were killed while two Delhi police personnel
were injured in a fierce encounter in Jamia Nagar of south
Delhi Friday.

Acting on intelligence inputs, the police raided the
house where Atiq and four other militants were holed up,
police said.

In the exchange of fire that ensued, Atiq and another
militant were killed, Joint Commissioner of Police (Special
Cell) Karnail Singh told reporters.

While one militant was arrested, two managed to escape
during the operation, he said.

Mohan Chand Sharma, an inspector who led the team, and
a head constable were injured in the heavy exchange of fire.
Sharma suffered a bullet injury in the abdomen, Deputy
Commissioner of Police (South) H. J. S. Dhaliwal said.

The police team had gone in search of the militants
after the prime suspect in the Ahmedabad serial blasts Abu
Basher had identified the four-storied house near a mosque in
Jamia Nagar where he along with Delhi serial blasts mastermind
Md Subhan Qureshi had taken shelter in July.

Basher was brought to Delhi yesterday from Ahmedabad
for questioning after the last week's serial blasts in Delhi
that claimed 24 lives. Indian Mujahideen, a shadow outfit of
SIMI and Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for the
Delhi attack.

Dhaliwal rubbished reports that the encounter took
place in a mosque.
The arrested militant was identified as Saif while
efforts were on to ascertain the identity of the second slain
militant, Delhi Police spokesman Rajan Bhagat said.

He said a large cache of weapons has been found in the
house.

The head constable injured in the encounter has been
named as Balwant.

A combing operation was on to nab the militants who
fled from the house, Bhagat said.