In the wake of a final verdict on the Batla House encounter case, the National Investigation Agency and police teams from several states are all set to launch another manhunt for the head honchos of the Indian Mujahideen.
Police will seek the extradition of Dr Shahnawaz and Asadulah Akthar, who were allegedly hiding inside Batla House on the day of the encounter but managed to give police the slip. Had the court determined that the Batla House encounter was fake, the NIA would have had to take a step back in its hunt for these IM operatives.
Now, NIA officials are hopeful about the extradition of IM terrorists from Saudi Aarabia.
"Saudi authorities are extremely particular about proof while seeking an extradition. This verdict makes our case stronger. If we manage to get those men back in India, then a very crucial part of the Indian Mujahideen will be busted," said one of them.
The Batla House encounter is considered to be a turning point in the history of jihadi terrorism in India as it created a new chapter of the IM.
Several operatives, including Akthar and Dr Shahnawaz, fled from Delhi to Azamgarh. They stayed at Azamgarh and then sneaked into Nepal, from where they left for Pakistan.
They held a meeting in Nepal with IM leader Yasin Bhatkal to discuss the regrouping of the Indian Mujahideen.
The new version of the IM triggered a spate of blasts at Pune, Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai. The terror outfit's modules in Delhi, Pune and Azamgarh, under intense scrutiny by security agencies, shifted to Darabhanga.
Facts of the Batla House Encounter Case:
In September 2008, seven police officers from the Delhi police entered an apartment at Batla House looking for Indian Mujahideen terrorists who were involved in the Delhi serial blasts.
Two suspects were shot dead and IM operative Shahzad Ahmed was arrested.
Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma was killed during the encounter.
Many activists had termed the encounter as fake.
In 2009, the National Human Rights Commission stated that the police had not violated any rights while conducting the encounter.
Even the ruling Congress seemed divided over the incident. While Congress leader Digvijaya Singh termed it as fake, then home minister P Chidambaram claimed it was a genuine encounter.
On Thursday, the court held Shahzad Ahmed guilty of murder and conspiracy.
Image: Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma, who was killed during the Batla House encounter
