Police in India's capital, New Delhi, have launched a massive search for two
suspected Islamic militants who escaped during a gunbattle Friday.
A New
Delhi police spokesman (Rajan Bhagat) today (Saturday) said
authorities are searching for the two suspects and seven others in connection
with last week's deadly serial bombings in the capital.
During Friday's
gunbattle in a Muslim neighborhood of the capital, police say they killed Atif,
a top leader in the Islamist militant group, Indian Mujahideen. The group
claimed responsibility for last Saturday's blasts that killed at least 22 people
in busy markets throughout New Delhi.
Police say Indian Mujahideen is an
off-shoot of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India. During a news
conference today, police official Karnal Singh said Pakistan-based extremist
group Laskher-e-Taiba is providing full support to Indian Mujahideen and the
students movement. He also said the suspects were inspired by
al-Qaida.
Friday's clash took place when police
raided a home, acting on a tip. One suspect was arrested, and a top police
officer was killed in the gunbattle. Hundreds of people attended the funeral for
police inspector Mohan Chand Sharma today.
Indian Mujahideen says it also
was responsible for blasts in July that killed at least 45 people in western
Gujarat state.
On Thursday, India's government announced new anti-terror
measures -- including the creation of a new counter-terrorism center, the
deployment of more police personnel, and the installation of closed-circuit
television cameras in crowded places.