Tracked down, brain behind Delhi blasts shot dead in J&K

The operation was carried out by securitymen on specific leads provided by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police after questioning blast accused Tariq Ahmed Dar.“We killed Abu Huzefa,” IGP, Kashmir, K Rajendra said at the site of the shootout. “On specific information generated by the Delhi Police, we planned a well coordinated operation along with Delhi Police and the local formation of the Army. The militant commander was hiding in a house here along with his accomplice”.

Rajendra said that Huzefa was killed after a 5-hour gun battle but his accomplice, Ali Mohammad aka Abu Zarar, managed to escape. He’s said to be injured. “We are still searching for him.” Huzefa and Zarar, top commanders of the LeT in north Kashmir, were believed to be the mastermind behind the Delhi blasts, Rajendra said. In Delhi, Joint Commissioner (Special Cell) Karnal Singh told reporters that clues provided by accused Tariq Ahmed Dar, a close associate of Huzefa, led the Special Cell to pinpoint his hideout.

“Interrogation of Dar led us to a specific tip-off about Abu Huzefa hiding in a house in Sherabad. The information was immediately passed on to J&K police yesterday,” Karnal Singh said. Tariq Dar reportedly told the Special Cell that Huzefa keeps shuttling between both sides of the LoC and that Pattan was a frequent hideout. Huzefa was also wanted in the Akshardham attack case.

As per the confession of Tariq Dar recorded by Delhi Police, Huzefa had sent Dar to New Delhi on October 4 to meet four LeT bombers and weave the conspiracy for the serial blasts. After the blasts, on Huzefa’s directions, Tariq also called a news agency to deny any Lashkar role and mislead security agencies, Special Cell officials said. This “mistake” (the phone call) by Dar led the police to him.