Gunbattle in Delhi: 2 killed, 1 arrested

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 belonging to Indian Mujahideen, 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.

Bystanders scramble for cover near the site of the gunbattle in Jamia Nagar

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 Abdus Subhan Qureshi alias 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.

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Residents of Jamia Nagar peep from their balcony near the site of a gunbattle

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.

Officials also said the area was under watch since Thursday evening.

A force of almost 150 police personnel was deputed in the area to assist the Special Cell in the operation.

Police personnel tighten security cordon near the site of a gunbattle

Sources claimed the terrorists holed up in the house were from Harkat-ul-Jihad-al Islami and Indian Mujahideen and could been involved in the recent Delhi serial blasts in which at least 22 people were killed and over 130 injured.

Soon after the encounter started, the area was cordoned off and senior officials of the Delhi police are present in and around the area to ensure security.

An eye witness and a resident of the area, Maseer Alam, said, "There has been firing happening since two hours, and I guess two people have been killed. I can’t identify their faces as they are covered now. One of the police officials has also been shot. Police personnel have surrounded the house and public has gathered, and they are taking away the dead in the ambulance."

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