Claiming they had foiled a major plan to strike terror in the national capital, the Special Cell of Delhi Police tonight said they had taken into custody four militants of the Jaish-e-Mohammad, including a Pakistan national, after a shootout on a busy road near Connaught Place.

Police said they had seized a huge cache of explosives, including three kilos of RDX, six hand grenades, four detonators, a timer and a revolver. The police also claimed to have recovered $10,000 and Rs 50,000 from the militants.

Police said they fired nearly 50 rounds after the militants opened fire. Police said they acted on a tip-off and intercepted the militants near Ranjit Singh flyover at around 9.30 pm. The exchange of fire created panic in the area — it took place on a busy stretch from ITO to the New Delhi railway station.

Those arrested were named as Shahid Ghafoor (30), a resident of Sialkot in Pakistan, and three Kashmiris — Bashir Ahmed (32), Fayyaz Lone (24) and Majid Bawa (42).

“Their specific targets in the capital were not immediately known, their interrogation is on. We are questioning them to learn about their motive and their contacts here,” Joint Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Karnal Singh told The Indian Express.

According to Singh, the Special Cell received information that three Jaish militants would reach Delhi by the Malwa Express. “The three militants arrived from Jammu and Kashmir by the Malwa Express at around 9 pm. They later met Shahid Ghafoor near Ranjit Singh flyover where the police challenged them. They were told to surrender but they opened fire on the police team. They were arrested after a brief encounter and were taken to the Lodhi Road police station. We are questioning them and more details will emerge tomorrow,” Singh added.

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