A Suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist, Bilal Ahmed Kawa, wanted for his role in 2000 Red Fort terror attack, was on Wednesday nabbed at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport in a joint operation by the special cell of Delhi Police and Gujarat ATS.
The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad had informed the Delhi Police on Wednesday that Kawa, who had been declared a proclaimed offender in the case, was travelling from Srinagar to Delhi. He was detained in the evening from the Delhi Airport and his questioning is underway, the police said.
A senior officer from the Special Cell confirmed that a man has been detained but said that they were verifying whether he was Kawa.
He is being questioned by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police.
On December 22, 2000, 6 LeT men had sneaked into the 17th century monument and opened indiscriminate fire on the guards of 7th battalion of Rajputana Rifles, killing three persons, including a civilian. The Army personnel present in the Fort had retaliated but the terrorists managed to flee through the Fort’s rear wall.
The Delhi police, after conducting an inquiry into the matter, had filed a chargesheet against main accused Mohd Arif alias Ashfaq and 21 others in February 2001. However, the special sessions court hearing the matter framed charges only against 11.
Arif was later sentenced to death while his four accomplices, including his wife, were given seven years in prison. Two others were given a life term.