In a joint operation conducted by the Delhi and J&K police, a divisional commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, also known as “Mr Surrender” for his evasive methods to deceive security forces, was nabbed near Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi after a brief exchange of fire.
Police officials said the accused, identified as Mohammed Abdullah Chechi alias Abdullah Inquilabi, a resident of Pakistan, was evading arrest for nearly a decade since he married a local woman in Rajouri district in 2000 after joining the militant group. The marriage provided him cover to carry on his activities. He is believed to be involved in a number of killings.
In Jammu, Inspector General of Police (Jammu), Ashok Kumar, said Abdullah was allegedly involved in the killing of more than 25 persons in the Pir Panjal range. “He was initially chief of Hizb’s Pir Panjal Regiment which got wiped out recently and he took over as Hizb divisional commander for Jammu province,” he said.
Sources said a trap was laid near Rose Garden Park in south Delhi by the sleuths of J&K police and special cell to nab Abdullah. “As he got down from a bus, we spotted him. He, however, started running towards the bushes. When we chased him, he fired at the party. He was overpowered and arrested. We have recovered a pistol and some ammunition from him,” a senior Delhi police official said.
Police sources said that Inquilabi, a resident of Shahdara in Pakistan, had come to the city last week and was actively in touch with some sleeper modules of his outfit. His initial questioning has revealed that he had come to the city to seek a hideout as J&K cops were searching for him. Abdullah was known as “Mr Surrender” as he used to propose to surrender before senior police officials but never did and carried out his alleged terror activities. He was produced in a local court which remanded him to 14-day police custody.