Lucknow/New Delhi, Feb. 2: The Indian Mujahideen (IM) had IITs and IIMs in north India as its next targets. This was revealed after the initial interrogation of Shahzad Ahmad Farouqui, the suspected IM terrorist arrested by the UP police’s anti-terrorist squad and Rajasthan police.
Meanwhile, the Delhi police team of special cell and crime branch officers that reached Lucknow will be given custody of Shahzad’s custody today. A senior crime branch officer confirmed that Shahzad will be produced in a Delhi court on Wednesday in connection with the murder of inspector Mohan Chand Sharma, who was shot dead during the Batla House encounter. The joint team of the Delhi police special cell and crime branch had earlier moved a petition in a Lucknow court for custody of Shahzad.
The UP police ATS on Tuesday confirmed that "Shahzad was allegedly planning to carry out blasts in several higher education institutions in the country." The ATS officers added that some elite educational and research institutes in north India were on the IM hit-list. The senior officers refused to reveal the names of the institutes but reliable sources confirmed that the IITs and IIMs were on the hit-list.
Meanwhile, following Shahzad’s interrogation report, security has been strengthened around elite educational and research institutes in north India. Police officers have also claimed some cities in UP and Gujarat with big educational institutes are on high alert.
Shahzad, while being interrogated by the ATS, also revealed that he was present during the Batla House encounter but managed to flee.
ATS officers added that Shahzad expressed annoyance with his organisation, saying he was promised the post of commander of a junior brigade but this was not fulfilled. The IM also wanted some youth to go for training by the Pakistan Army, he revealed.
Shahzad, alias Pappu, an accused in the September 13, 2008 serial blasts in Delhi which claimed 26 lives, was arrested by the ATS from Khalispur village in UP on Monday evening.
Shahzad, who carries a reward of Rs 5 lakhs on his head, was named in five chargesheets regarding the serial blasts filed by the Delhi police. Shahzad is one of the two accused whom the Delhi police claimed had escaped from Batla House after the encounter on September 19, 2008. The other one who escaped is Junaid, the police claimed.
Shahzad is also accused of planting bombs at India Gate and Karol Bagh. However, the bombs planted at India Gate did not explode.
Age Correspondents