NIA likely to probe Lucknow encounter

The move came after the Home Ministry officials got the hint that there may be a much larger conspiracy and more people in multiple locations might have links with Saifullah, who was killed in the encounter. 

Saifullah is suspected to be linked with the blast in the Bhopal-Ujjain train in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday, police said. An NIA team has reached Bhopal to probe into the suspected terror attack. 

Six officials of the National Investigative Agency also visited the spot in  Haji colony under Kakori police station in  Lucknow on Wednesday and examined the articles and the house, the site of the encounter. 

Meanwhile, the two suspected terrorists arrested in Kanpur and neighbouring Unnao were taken to Lucknow by a team of the Uttar Pradesh Ant-Terrorism Squad for further questioning. 

Meanwhile, in Jammu and Kashmir, police busted a Hizbul Mujahideen module and arrested three militants. Police recovered two Chinese pistols with 20 rounds, 4 grenades, one wireless set and one packet of explosives from them.

“A traitor cannot be my son, straight and simple,” said Sartaj, the father of suspected ISIS terrorist Saifullah who was killed in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh police.

Sartaj refused to take the body of his slain son, saying, “A traitor cannot be related to me, let alone be my son.” Saifullah was killed in Lucknow this morning in an exchange of fire with the police after a 12-hour stand-off. He was suspected to be linked with the blast in the Bhopal-Ujjain train on Tuesday, police said. Speaking to reporters, Sartaj emphasised, “We are Indian citizens. I was born here, my ancestors were born here.” He said he had heard this morning about the death of his son in the encounter. Sartaj said Saifullah had left home about two-and-ahalf months back after he beat him up for not finding work and not listening to him. 

“On Monday, I got a call from Saifullah, who told me that he had got a visa to visit Saudi (Arabia) and he was preparing to go there. I told him go ahead,” the  father said. Superintendent of Police (Kanpur City) Somen Verma said Saifullah’s family was contacted but they refused to take the body. He added that the police may again make an attempt to convince the family about it. Meanwhile, the father of two other men, who have been arrested on terror related charges, has claimed that they were innocent and has sought a fair probe.