Assailant is former Nepal Maoist

One of the two assailants arrested in the attack in which Iqbal Kaskars aide was shot dead was active as a Maoist rebel in Nepal about a decade ago,the police said on Wednesday. Indra Bahadur Khatri is believed to have disclosed sketchy details of his background.

Khatri,who is 27 years old,has told us that around 10 years ago he was a Maoist in Nepal. He even received training in handling weapons for a year there. However,details of his activities at that time,or since then,are not known to us, said Samsherkhan Pathan,Senior Police Inspector of Pydhonie police station.

A senior Crime Branch official said,He claims he came to Mumbai about 10 to 12 days ago and was looking for work,when he met some people who recruited him for this job. However,we are taking this version with a pinch of salt. The police are ascertaining if he had any case registered against him in Nepal.