Pakistani militant arrested in Delhi after gunfight (Roundup)

NEW DELHI/JAMMU - A Pakistani described as a commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen group was arrested after a gunfight in the Indian capital, police said Monday. He is being interrogated after a court sent him to police custody.

Abdullah Inquilabi, 35, was caught around 9.30 p.m. Sunday from the Deer Park in Hauz Khas area of south Delhi, a police officer told IANS. “He fired at us and tried to escape, but was caught after half hour and three-four rounds of exchange of fire.” A pistol and some cartridges were seized from him.

After being interrogated by Delhi Police’s Special Cell, Inquilabi was Monday afternoon brought before Tis Hazari court, which remanded him in police custody for 14 days. A number of charges under the Indian Penal Code, the Arms Act, the Foreigners Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act were slapped against him.

“Inquilabi has confessed that he was active in Jammu and Kashmir and had come to Delhi in the past week to secure a hideout here. His version of the story and other angles of his stay at Delhi are currently being looked into,” a senior Delhi Police official said.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police said it was their tip-off to Delhi Police that led to the arrest of Inquilabi, involved in a series of killings and abductions in the state.

“Jammu and Kashmir Police’s inputs played a crucial role in the arrest of Abdullah Inquilabi. We had shared information with Delhi Police,” Inspector General of Police (Jammu) Ashok Gupta told reporters in Jammu.

Inquilabi was involved in at least 20 killings as also a number of abductions, Gupta said. “He used to operate in the Rajouri and Reasi belt of Jammu region,” he added.

One possible motive, and the most likely, of his visit of Delhi was to collect funds for his group, apart from evading arrest in Jammu and Kashmir for 10 pending cases against him there, Delhi Police officials said.

Security agencies are also investigating how many local accomplices Inquilabi was in contact with and what was the nature of exchange between them.

–Indo Asian News Service