- Title: INDIA: Police arrest four suspected Islamist militants
- Date: 23rd March 2014
- Summary: THIS EDIT CONTAINS MATERIAL WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3 JODHPUR, RAJASTHAN, INDIA (MARCH 23, 2014) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI - NO ACCESS BBC) EXTERIOR OF POLICE STATION POLICE OFFICERS WALKING WITH ARRESTED SUSPECTED MILITANT POLICE OFFICERS AND SUSPECTED MILITANT GETTING INTO VEHICLE SUSPECTED MILITANT SITTING IN CAR NEW DELHI, INDIA (MARCH 23, 2014) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI - NO ACCESS BBC) (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) SPECIAL COMMISSIONER OF DELHI POLICE, S. N. SRIVASTAVA, SAYING: "We have arrested Zia-Ur-Rahman, who was known by his alias Waqas, yesterday morning. This militant is a Pakistani national. He is wanted in relation to many terror acts along with his aides in the country." JODHPUR, RAJASTHAN, INDIA (MARCH 23, 2014) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI - NO ACCESS BBC) VARIOUS OF POLICE VEHICLE WITH SUSPECTED MILITANT LEAVING NEW DELHI, INDIA (MARCH 23, 2014) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI - NO ACCESS BBC) (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) SPECIAL COMMISSIONER OF DELHI POLICE, S. N. SRIVASTAVA, SAYING: "We have arrested his three accomplices on his disclosure. We arrested Mohammed Maroof and Mohammed Waqar Azhar from Jaipur city and Saqib Ansari alias Khalid from Jodhpur city. After their arrest, we searched their houses and recovered huge cache of explosive materials, detonators, electronic circuits, timer and etc. SRIVASTAVA AT END OF NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 7th April 2014 22:44
- Keywords:
- Location: India
- Country: India
- Topics: Crime
- Reuters ID: LVA95YJM596JNYPLZPVQFDDHRYGI
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: Indian police have arrested four suspected Islamist militants, including an aide of the leader of a militant group accused of several bomb blasts, who they said could be plotting an attack ahead of elections starting next month.
Zia-Ur-Rahman, alias Waqas, was arrested on Saturday (March 22) in Ajmer in the western state of Rajasthan, the second major blow for the Indian Mujahideen after the capture of founder leader Yasin Bhatkal in Nepal last year.
Waqas, who police said was a Pakistani national, was wanted for bomb blasts in Mumbai, Pune and Hyderabad over the past several years, officials said.
S.N. Srivastava, a top police official in New Delhi, gave details at a news conference on Sunday (March 23).
"We have arrested Zia-Ur-Rahman, who was known by his alias Waqas, yesterday morning. This militant is a Pakistani national. He is wanted in relation to many terror acts along with his aides in the country," he said.
Three other suspected members of the group were also arrested with a large quantity of explosives, police said.
"We have arrested his three accomplices on his disclosure. We arrested Mohammed Maroof and Mohammed Waqar Azhar from Jaipur city and Saqib Ansari alias Khalid from Jodhpur city. After their arrest, we searched their houses and recovered huge cache of explosive materials, detonators, electronic circuits, timer and etc," Srivasta said.
The Indian Mujahideen militant group has been accused of dozens of bomb attacks over recent years. The group is also suspected of being behind an attack on a rally by prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi last October that killed six people and wounded more than 80.
Police said the latest arrests were made possible after they gathered information from two arrested Indian Mujahideen militants including Bhatkal. Srivastava said the group's target could be any important event, including elections.
Interior Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said the arrest of Waqas was a great success as he was a crucial link to the group. - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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