ATS kills Ahmedabad blast suspect during encounter

A suspect in the 2008 Ahmedabad blasts was killed and two of his accomplices arrested in an encounter with the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad on Monday, which also left a constable wounded at Aurangabad.

The deceased has been identified as Khaleel, a resident of Gulmohar Colony in Ahmedabad, said the police.

The encounter occurred near Uddhav Rao Patil Chowk in Himayat Bagh area of the town around 12.30 pm, sources said. Two accomplices of Khaleel, identified as Mohammed Shabbir and Abrar, were arrested in an injured condition after the encounter. ATS constable Sheikh Arif was also wounded.

All three have been admitted to the Government Medical College and Hospital at Aurangabad, sources said.

One of the two arrested was also involved in the murder of a Bharatiya Janata Party activist, they said.

Ahmedabad was rocked by 21 bomb blasts in July 2008 within a span of 70 minutes, in which 56 people were killed and over 200 injured.