Two suspected Islamic militants believed to have been plotting a major attack in the Indian capital have been shot dead in the city's centre, police said on Sunday.
"Turbans?"
"Check."
"Automatic weapons?"
"Check."
"Six or more passports?"
"... 37... 38... 39... Check."
"I suspect these are Islamic militants, Mukkerjee."
"Me, too, chief!" |
The two alleged members of the extremist Jaish-e-Mohammed organisation were killed late on Saturday in a gunfight with police close to an area occupied by government buildings including the president's palace and the parliament. A police spokesman said the exchange of fire occurred shortly after 11:00pm near the city's semi-developed Millennium Park as police acting on a tip-off were searching vehicles. He said three men had also been arrested during a routine search which uncovered a truck laden with arms and explosives said to be destined for Islamic militants.
| That's the usual recipient of arms and explosives, isn't it? |
"During interrogation they said the consignment was to be delivered to two men of the Jaish-e-Mohammed who were already in Delhi, they also revealed that the consignment was to delivered at the Millennium Park," he told AFP. "Acting on this information, a crack team of Delhi police commandos went to the area and set up a picket. In the course of checking the vehicles, one of the cars did not stop, and instead opened fire with a hail of bullets."
| "You'll never take me alive, coppers!... Ow!... Ow!... O-o-o-o-w!" |
Speaking later on television, a senior police officer said the men killed late on Saturday had been plotting a deadly attack on a target in the city. They were definitely planning to commit a heinous act at crowded places in Delhi, or were trying to target VIPs." Another television station quoted police sources saying one of the suspected militants was a Pakistani national.
| Well, by golly! That is a surprise! |
Police in the Indian capital earlier discovered a bag containing 25 kilograms of explosives at the city's busy railway station. |