25 January,2009 08:19 PM IST | | Surender Sharma
Two militants were killed in an encounter in Noida, Uttar Pradesh by the Anti-Terrorist Squad in a pre-dawn encounter on 25 January, a day ahead of Republic Day Celebrations in the Capital.
The militants were identified as Farooq and Abu Ismail, both Pakistani nationals.
The incident took place at 2:15 am when ATS team who had inputs of criminals movement suspected to be terrorist chased down the duo in a secluded place of Sector-97 of Noida near Greater Noida Expressway.
"After firing gunshots at the ATS team, the duo were trying to flee ATS and police gheraoed them. In the exchange of fire both terrorist sustained injures and later died," said the police official.u00a0
The police have recovered, two AK-47 assault rifles, four magazines, five hand grenades, 1.5 kg of explosive, two passports, cash worth Rs 18,000 and some documents from the car being used by alleged terrorists.
According to the police there were some intelligence inputs of their movement in Ghaziabad. The car was traced in Lal Kuan area of Ghaziabad.
"The ATS team chased the Maruti-800 car (UP-14E9531) from Lalkuan area of Ghaziabad. As the terrorists entered Noida through Model Town out post the team informed the city police who also joined them. The duo fired at the police team while fleeing in Sector-97. In the exchange of fire they were injured," said, UP police officials.
UP Police Additional Director General, Brij Lal said, "One of the terrorists, while being taken to hospital identified himself as Farooq, a resident of Okara in Pakistan, and his accomplice as Abu Ismail from Rawalakot (PoK)."
In the exchange of fire an ATS constable, Vinod Kumar also sustained bullet injuries who is recovering at Prayag Hospital of Noida Sector- 41. A bullet pierced muscles of left leg of Vinod Kumar. However, is condition is stable now, said doctors, treating the ATS constable.
The Police sources said, the terrorist had planned to enter Delhi from Oakhla via Noida.
The police sources said the chesses number of the Maruti car used by the terrorist were erased and the registration number of the car was also later found of a scooter registered in Gaziabad area. "The number plate was faked to conceal the identity," said police officials.
The police were trying to ascertain the people who helped them out to arrange the logistics in Delhi and UP. Sources said, four Kashmiris have been detained by the police in this connection. SP City, Noida, Ashok Tripathi when contacted said that the police are yet to find out name of the outfit which the duo belonged to.