Police take Delhi bomber around city to verify statement

NEW DELHI - Suspected Indian Mujahideen terrorist Shahzad Ahmad, involved in the city’s serial blasts, was taken by Delhi Police’s Crime Branch Friday to a few places in the national capital to verify his statement about how he fled after the Batla House shootout on Sep 19, 2008, and the people who helped him in escaping.

He was taken to a few places. We are verifying his claims and checking on people who helped him. He has taken the names of some politicians of national political parties. But we do not want to take names until and unless we are ourselves very sure, a senior police officer said.

Shahzad is cooperating in the interrogation, the officer added.

According to media reports, Ahmad was helped by three politicians, including a former Uttar Pradesh legislator from Azamgarh, in fleeing from Delhi after the Batla House shootout, in which two terrorists and a police officer were killed.

Ahmad will be presented before a court Saturday. Delhi Police’s Special Cell will then seek his custody for his role in the Sep 13, 2008, serial bombings in the capital in which 26 people were killed.

Ahmad, who carried a reward of Rs.5 lakh on his head, was Monday arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police from Khalaspur village in Azamgarh district, some 300 km from Lucknow.