After 15 long years, key Akshardham Temple terror attack suspect arrested in Ahmedabad
Ajmeri Rashid arrived in Ahmedabad early today morning and was promptly arrested by the police.
In Short
- Ajmeri Abdul Rashid arrested Ahmedabad Police Crime Branch.
- Rashid was in Riyadh.
- Six other accused in the case were acquitted by the Supreme Court.
Ajmeri Abdul Rashid, a key accused in the Akshardham Temple terrorist attack in Gujarat, was arrested today in Ahmedabad, a full 15 years after gunmen stormed the iconic complex and killed 30 devotees.
Ajmeri Abdul Rashid, the brother of another accused who was acquitted by the courts, was arrested by the Ahmedabad Police's Crime Branch from the city airport while returning from Riyadh.
Ajmeri Rashid arrived in Ahmedabad early today morning and was promptly arrested by the police. His brother Ajmeri Adam was among the six people charged by Gujarat police in the Akshardham Temple terrorist attack.
On September 24, 2002, two terrorists armed with automatic guns and hand grenade stormed the Akshardham Temple complex at Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
In the subsequent firing and explosions, at least 30 devotees were killed and 80 others were injured. The National Security Guard, India's ace anti-terrorism force, was called in the next day and the commandos took down the two terrorists, who were from the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad terror groups.
A total of six people were arrested by the Gujarat police and charged with planning and helping execute the Akshardham attack. All six were acquitted by the Supreme Court in May 2014.
Incidentally, the NSG recently held a mock drill at the Akshardham Temple complex in order to test the force's response plan. A terrorist attack was simulated at the temple complex, but the force did not reveal much information on the drill.