The Hindu : National : Reward for information on 13 wanted terrorists

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Wednesday, Dec 31, 2008
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Reward for information on 13 wanted terrorists

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: The Delhi police on Tuesday announced a reward of Rs.1 lakh on each of the 13 terrorists wanted in connection with September 13 serial blasts in the capital. While two of the alleged militants were gunned down in an encounter and five arrested, six others have been arrested by their Mumbai counterparts.

The serial blasts took place at Karol Bagh, Central Park and Barakhamba Road in Connaught Place and in Greater Kailash. Three live bombs were found at Regal Cinema, Central Park and in the Children’s Park of India Gate. In all, 26 people were killed and 133 were injured in the explosions.

Investigations led to the arrest of five — Mohammad Saif, Zeeshan Ahmad, Mohammad Shakeel, Zia-ur-Rehman and Saquib Nisar — and elimination of alleged mastermind Atif Amin and another suspected terrorist Sajid.

According to the police, Pakistan-trained Atif was heading the module and remained in regular touch with his handlers in and outside the country through e-mail and mobile phone.

The police found that Atif was involved in blasts at Sankat Mochan, Gadolia and Varanasi railway station in Uttar Pradesh in March 2006, the Gorakhpur blasts in May 2006, the U.P. court blasts in November 2007, the Jaipur blasts in May this year, the Ahmedabad blasts in July and the Delhi blasts in September.

The terrorists wanted in connection with the blasts have been identified as Ariz Khan, Shahzad Ahmad, Mohammad Sajid, Mirza Sadab Baig, Mohammad Khalid, Shahnawaz, Hakim, Asadullah Akhtar, Salman, Mohammad Khalid, Iqbal Bhatkal, Riyaz Bhatkal and Amir Raza Khan.

Amir Raza is the chief of the Indian Mujahideen outfit and is suspected to be operating from Pakistan. He is the brother of Asif, who was killed by the Rajkot police while fleeing from their custody in December 2001.

The police suspect that Riyaz and the other key members of the Indian Mujahideen were roped in by Amir Raza to carry out strikes in different parts of the country.

Riyaz and Iqbal allegedly provided logistical support and explosives. Investigations revealed that 26 terrorists were involved in the conspiracy behind the serial blasts and its execution.

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