Blast plotter or MC Sharma's killer?

A Delhi serial blasts accused will be charged for slain police officer's murder in the Batla House encounter

A Delhi serial blasts accused will be charged for slain police officer's murder in the Batla House encounter

The Uttar Pradesh police on Monday arrested a man accused of plotting the September 2008 Delhi serial blasts and murdering inspector MC Sharma during the Batla House encounter the same year. Shahzad, alias Pappu, who was held at Khalispur village, Azamgarh district, has already been named in five chargesheets filed by the cops as one of the accused who carried out the serial blasts in the city.u00a0

u00a0Though officials refused to comment, sources informed the Uttar Pradesh Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) arrested Shahzad on a tip-off provided by the Delhi police. "Shahzad along with 12 other accused kept evading police arrest for a long time. He regularly changed base in and around Azamgarh," said a cop.

Shahzad, who carries a reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head, is accused of planting bombs at Karol Bagh and India Gate. Shahzad and other members of the banned terrorist organisation Indian Mujahideen, had allegedly come to Delhi from Azamgarh and other places with a mission to carry out blasts in the city.

Though the bomb planted at Karol Bagh exploded, the one placed near India Gate was defused by cops. "They operated from their hideout in Batla House and cops raided it a week after the blasts. Inspector MC Sharma led the raiding team and was killed in the encounter," said a Delhi police official.u00a0u00a0 Shahzad will soon be handed over to Delhi Police that is conducting the enquiry and had filed the chargesheet. "He could lead cops to other terrorists who plotted the blast," said an official.

Martyr Sharma

Inspector MC Sharma was killed by bullets fired by the terrorists holed up in Batla House. Shahzad (along with another alleged terrorist Junaid) who was also present on the same flat managed to escape. Two terrorists were killed by the cops, while two managed to escape and evaded police arrest for more than one-and-a-half year.