Panic in Andhra as ex-SIMI man opens fire, flees

Rao said, “As soon Ahmed saw the cops closing in on him, he fired three rounds and fled. Three others were also with him and we have launched a manhunt for them. Ahmed is a member of the Darsgah Jehad O Shahadat and a former SIMI activist. The police was on the lookout for him and he had been absconding for nearly two years. Today, we received information that he was seen in Santhoshnagar. A police team was searching for him and two head constables G Rama Raju and Jaffer Shiekh spotted him near the Santhoshnagar crossroads near a telephone booth and tried to approach him. Raju has been hit in the stomach. He has been shifted to Apollo hospital. Jaffer suffered a fracture in one of his fingers.”

Rao rubbished reports that Ahmed was an ISI agent, who had links with the Lashkar-e-Toiba and was helping the LeT in recruiting youths for jehad. “If he has any such links it will come out in the investigation now. A manhunt has been launched for him and his three accomplices,” he added.

The Hyderabad-based DJS was established with the intention of training Muslims in self-defence. But the organisation has been accused of links with LeT and helping them covertly in its activities. Meanwhile, a red alert has been announced in the city and the police have put up barricades, vehicles are being checked, and additional forces have been rushed to public places.