WASHINGTON (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Delhi police claim to have killed one of the Lashkar-e-Taiba fighters suspected to be involved in the Red Fort attack on Friday.
According to an Indian news agency, the United News International (UNI), a police party comprising of officers from a special cell raided a first floor apartment in Batla House area of South Delhi on Tuesday at 6:00 a.m.
Delhi police claim that the person killed in the raid was one of two individuals involved in the Red Fort attack. Assistant Commissioner of Police (Special Branch) Rajbir Singh said the bloody encounter lasted half an hour.
"He [the suspect] was alone in the flat, though we were expecting more," said Singh.
Delhi police claim they have identified the dead suspect as Abu Samal, a Pakistani national, and have also arrested one of his accomplices.
Another police official said, "We presume they have been here from December 3rd, and were planning some more strikes."
The police apparently found an AK-56 rifle, two hand grenades, two ammunition magazines, documents and a policeman's uniform. Forensic experts were immediately dispatched to the location of the raid and are carrying out investigations.
The police have also detained Mushtaq and Ghani Bhatt who were found with maps of India and Delhi and other alleged "incriminating" documents on them, but have stated that it is not clear if they are linked to Abu Samal.
Meanwhile, security has been tightened across India over fears of hijackings and further attacks.
Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed has said that, "Indian people should not be bothered by the attack on the Red Fort. The mujahideen of Lashker-e-Taiba will not target civilian places, rather their target[s are] on the installments of [the] Indian army in Kashmir."
Saeed demanded the Indian government immediately grant freedom to Kashmir or face further attacks. He also expressed hope that the Indian people will also pressure their government to withdraw its forces from Kashmir and release thousands of Kashmiris languishing in Indian prisons.
