Police probing 'role' of politicians who helped terrorist flee

Suspected Indian Mujahideen terrorist Shahzad has reportedly named at least three politicians, including a former MLA from Azamgarh, claiming they helped him flee from Delhi after the Batla House shootout two years ago, police sources said in New Delhi on Friday.

Suspected Indian Mujahideen terrorist Shahzad has reportedly named at least three politicians, including a former MLA from Azamgarh, claiming they helped him flee from Delhi after the Batla House shootout two years ago, police sources said in New Delhi on Friday.

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Shahzad, who was arrested on February one by Uttar Pradesh Police's Anti-Terror Squad, is said to have named a former MLA, a local leader believed to be a councillor and another leader whose help he took to flee from the national capital, the sources said.

The 21-year-old accused, allegedly involved in the 2008 Delhi serial blasts and Batla encounter, claimed he went to the former MLA's residence in Shaheenbagh after he fled from the encounter site on September 19, 2008, the sources said.

"This is what he told us. We are verifying it. We are investigating whether the people whom he approached after the encounter helped him knowingly or not," a senior police official said.

Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said Shahzad took "some names" whom he claimed helped him. The Crime Branch is investigating whether those mentioned by the accused helped him and in what circumstances.