Five undertrials, all members of banned terrorist organisation Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), were killed when they tried to escape from a police vehicle in Nalgonda district of Telangana on Tuesday around 8am, police said. A sub-inspector sustained minor injuries in the encounter.
Viqaruddin Ahmad, one of those shot dead, was languishing in jail for five years for killing two policemen in Hyderabad in 2010. Viqaruddin had links with lashkar-e-Tayyeba as well. He was also facing charges of killing a policeman in Gujarat in 2007.
Syed Amjad, Mohammed Haneef, Mohammed Zakir, and Izhar Khan were other undertrials who were killed.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Malla Reddy said the incident occurred at Pembarthy near Aler in Nalgonda when the five undertrials were being brought from Warangal to Hyderabad for production in a court. They were being accompanied by 18 armed policemen.
“Accused tried to snatch guns from escorting policemen after Vicaruddin stopped the vehicle saying he wanted
to attend nature’s call,” said Malla Reddy.
Malla Reddy said that the police opened fire when the undertrials tried to escape after attacking the policemen. One of the dead undertrial was found holding a police gun.
The incident came close on the heels of a fierce encounter in Nalgonda district on Saturday in which two SIMI terrorists Aizazuddin and Aslam Khan were killed.
Police constable Nagaraju was also killed in the encounter. Another sub-inspector, Siddaiah, who was injured in that encounter, succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday evening. The police said that the two slain terrorists were involved killing of a Home Guard constable.
In 2008 and 2009, Viqaruddin had created a sensation by attacking police on the anniversary of bomb blasts in Mecca Masjid allegedly to avenge the death of Muslims in a subsequent police firing.
Viqaruddin’s father Mohammed Ahmed alleged a foul play in the encounter. “The police have deliberately killed my son as his case was coming to an end and they could not prove any charge against him,” he said.
Ahmed said that he will go to court to demand a fair probe into the “encounter killings”.
Viqaruddin was initially active with Darsgah-e-Jehad-o-Shahadat, an old city-based fundamentalist organisation which has now become dysfunctional. later as his criminal activities grew, he joined lashkar-e-Tayyeba and was working at the behest of Pakistan’s ISI.
His successful attacks despite strict police security and high alert had caused much embarrassment to the authorities. Finally he was arrested on July 10, 2010. During the interrogation, he revealed that he had formed his own armed group to carry out terrorist activities and some politicians were on his hit list.
The killing of five under trials in encounter has sparked off tension in the old city as most of them belonged to that part of Hyderabad.