Pak terrorist arrested by Delhi cops played a role in Delhi HC blast, Jammu bus stand attack

New Delhi, Oct 13: The Pakistani terrorist arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police had carried out a reconnaissance of the Delhi High Court in 2011. It may be recalled that during the same year, blasts took place outside the HC in which 11 people were killed.

The police said that Mohammad Ashraf alias Ali was living in Delhi as an Indian national with the name Ali Ahmed Noori. Pramod Singh Kushwaha, Deputy Commissioner (Special Cell) said that his team had recently received inputs that a Pakistani national, who lived in east Delhi was impersonating as an Indian citizen. He was then traced to Laxmi Nagar and later arrested.

While he has admitted to his role in the Delhi HC blasts, the police is ascertaining the claim further. He is also said to have told the police that he was involved in several terror activities and had a role to play in the Jammu Bus Station terror attack in 2009.

He had taken cover as a peer baba. He also got married, the police have learnt.

His interrogation led to the recovery of the AK-47 rifle and several other arms and ammunition. He is not associated with an terror outfit, Kushwah also said while adding that he had obtained Indian identity cards with the help of forged documents.

The police said that the recovery of arms indicated that he was planning attacks during the festive season. He is said to have entered the border through the border touring Siliguri. He also had gone to Ajmer and made friends with a maulvi and came to Delhi with him.

He then stayed at an area close to where the maulvi's relatives lived. Later he began receiving money from the ISI. He was being handled by one Naseer with whom he kept in touch through secure communication channels.

Kushwaha said that the had made a passport in 2014 and had changed at least 5 addresses. He also used several apps to stay in touch with his handler in Pakistan.

The Special Cell is now questioning him to find out about the purpose of his visit to India. The police is also trying to ascertain why Ahsraf had adopted an Indian identity and was in the possession of arms and ammunition. The source from where he procured the arms is also under investigation, the police said.