Ex-MLA gave me shelter: Delhi bomber

NEW DELHI: In a shocking disclosure, arrested Indian Mujahideen terrorist Shahzad Alam has revealed to the police that he was provided shelter and financial help by a former Delhi MLA after he escaped from the Batla House shootout on September 19, 2008. According to sources in Delhi Police crime branch, Shahzad has also claimed that a Bihar-based former junior minister and a prominent Mumbai politician helped him evade arrest.

Shahzad, arrested in Azamgarh, was handed over by the UP cops to Delhi Police crime branch on Monday and brought to the capital on Tuesday. Since then, he has been intensively questioned by police as well as Intelligence Bureau for details of IM activities, and also on how he and Ariz alias Junaid were able to elude the police siege of Batla House.

Shahzad has reportedly told the police that when the firing began at L-18 Batla House, he and Junaid were in another room. He then went to the balcony and saw policemen. While the gunbattle raged on near the front door, the duo fled through the second exit. They ran down the same stairs used by the police team to come up, apparently shouting that they were residents. In the ongoing melee outside the building, they were able to stage a getaway. They then took an auto-rickshaw to Shaheen Bagh where they were sheltered by the former MLA, now based in Noida.

Since the two were short of money, the ex-MLA allegedly provided the cash that helped them board a train for Aligarh. The two then went to Lucknow and Azamgarh from where Junaid parted ways with Shahzad. At this time, the two IM terrorists were reportedly assisted by the junior minister from Bihar by way of more finances. With Shahzad also naming a Mumbai politician, police are verifying an account of the terrorist’s visit to the city alongwith Junaid.

When asked about the identity of the ex-MLA, the crime branch officers were tightlipped and said Shahzad’s claims were being tracked and verified. However, they did not rule out the possibility of the politician being called in for questioning in connection with the case.