American Embassy firing accused confesses to crime

Mumbai, Nov 10 (UNI) An Indian Mujahideen (IM) operative Sajid Shaikh has confessed that he was involved in firing at the American Embassy in Kolkata in 2002, that claimed lives of five police personnel.

Speaking to mediapersons here today, Joint Commissioner of Police Rakesh Maria said Shaikh was arrested by the crime branch of city police for his alleged involvement in recent serial bomb blasts at Gujarat and New Delhi.

During interrogation, Shaikh revealed that he was involved in firing at the American Embassy and he told police that four people had gone to the American Embassy and fired several rounds from their AK-47 rifles. In the firing, five police personnel were killed, he added.

Shaikh further disclosed that after firing he alongwith another accused Jahid went to Bihar, where Jahid was killed in an encounter in Hajipur district of Bihar. Later, he went to Azhamgarh, stayed there for eight to nine months and then fled to Dubai.

In the year 2001, he had undergone weapon training at Bangladesh and in 2005 at Pakistan, he confessed.

Shaikh told police that he was in regular contact with Riyaz Bhatkal and Atif Raza, accused and founder members of IM, Mr Maria said.

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