Lucknow encounter: Delhi on high alert; slain terrorist Saifullah's accomplices may target crowded places

An alleged terrorist, suspected to have been influenced by the ISIS, was killed here early today after a 12-hour police operation in the wake of the Ujjain- Bhopal train blast.

New Delhi: Delhi has been put on high alert in the aftermath of Lucknow encounter, in which an alleged terrorist (Saifullah), suspected to have been influenced by the dreaded terror outfit ISIS, was killed in an anti-terror operation on Wednesday,

The high alert was sounded following reports that two accomplices of Saifullah may head towards the national capital to carry out terror attacks.

Police suspect that two alleged terrorists, who are on the run, may sneak into Delhi and carry out attacks in crowded places on the occasion of Holi, reports today said.

Police have started search operations in Paharganj and nearby areas.

Speaking about the encounter in Lucknow, ADGP Chaudhary on Wednesday said, "We have information about the suspects on the run and we will soon catch them."

Saifullah's body was found with weapons lying next to him when the doors of the house where he was holed up since Tuesday afternoon were opened at the end of the operation, ADGP (Law and Order) Daljit Chaudhary told a press conference.

The encounter came as Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh police teams carried out arrests of several "seld-radicalised" persons suspected to be linked to the train blast in Shajapur in MP on Tuesday in which ten persons were injured.

Among the suspects held are Kanpur residents Mohammed Faisal Khan, Mohammed Imran alias 'Bhai Jaan' and Danish, who are believed to be brothers, according to police officials.

Police have also arrested Fakr-e-Alam alias Rishu from Etawah and Atiq Muzaffar, a resident of Kanpur, who allegedly was leading the group. Another person identified as Shailendra has also been held from Auraiya, officials said.

The ADGP said they got inputs from several agencies about the likely presence of terror suspects in Lucknow, Kanpur and Etawah after an explosion took place on a train in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday in which eight people were injured.

Saifullah

"These people were self-radicalised and self-proclaimed believers of ISIS ideology. They had no financing from any foreign source. They were using their own properties and other sources to fund their activities," he said.

The gun battle broke out around 4 pm on Tuesday in Lucknow and continued for over 11 hours, concluding early on Wednesday.