New Delhi: Suspected Indian Mujahideen
terrorist Shahzad has reportedly named at least three
politicians, including a former MLA from Azamgarh, claiming
they helped him flee from Delhi after the Batla House shootout
two years ago, police sources said here today.
Shahzad, who was arrested on February one by Uttar
Pradesh Police's Anti-Terror Squad, is said to have named a
former MLA, a local leader believed to be a councillor and
another leader whose help he took to flee from the national
capital, the sources said.
The 21-year-old accused, allegedly involved in the 2008
Delhi serial blasts and Batla encounter, claimed he went to
the former MLA's residence in Shaheenbagh after he fled
from the encounter site on September 19, 2008, the sources
said.
"This is what he told us. We are verifying it. We are
investigating whether the people whom he approached after the
encounter helped him knowingly or not," a senior police
official said.
Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said Shahzad took
"some names" whom he claimed helped him. The Crime Branch is
investigating whether those mentioned by the accused helped
him and in what circumstances.
However, he refused to reveal any of the names, saying
"we have not completed the investigations in this regard," he
said.
PTI
First Published: Friday, February 05, 2010, 20:17