Terror suspect arrested in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD - Terror suspect Viqar Ahmed, who is suspected to have links with Pakistan-based terror groups and is allegedly involved in three incidents of firing on policemen, was arrested by Hyderabad Police here Wednesday.

Ahmed was arrested along with another suspect Amjad. The arrests were made in Secunderabad, when the accused were reportedly planning more attacks.

The arrest was made on a tip off by Suleman, a physician from Gujarat, and Haneef, who allegedly gave shelter to Viqar. The two were picked by counter intelligence from different parts of the city two day ago.

Ahmed, who carried a reward of Rs.500,000, is a former activist of Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and is suspected to have links with Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and some Pakistan-based terror groups, police said.

The native of Malakpet area in the city had allegedly shot dead a police constable in the old city of Hyderabad on May 13 this year, five days before the third anniversary of Mecca Masjid blast.

Masked assailants opened fire on policemen, killing one, in Shahali Banda area, about a kilometre from the historic Mecca Masjid.

Last year, on the second anniversary of the blast, a policeman was killed and another injured in a similar attack when assailants opened fire on police at Falaknuma area of the old city.

Two policemen were injured Dec 3, 2008 in an attempt to arrest Ahmed.

Nine people were killed in the May 18, 2007 blast in the Mecca Masjid.