NEW DELHI, 24 January 2004 — Amid high alert in New Delhi ahead of the Republic Day, the Delhi Police yesterday claimed to have foiled a major terrorist strike in the national capital by arresting an alleged Hizb-e-Islami militant and recovering 3.5 kilograms of high explosives from him. Ayaz Mohammad Shah, who had allegedly planned to strike in the capital to disturb the Republic Day celebrations, was nabbed near Welcome Metro Railway Station in northeast Delhi late in the evening yesterday, Joint Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Karnal Singh said. Singh said the police also recovered 300,000 rupees from Shah who hails from Anantnag district in Jammu and Kashmir. Shah is considered to be close to the outfit’s chief Sarfaraz and was in his direct contact, Singh said, adding he had been instructed by Sarfaraz to reach Delhi and carry out the strike.
