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Shootout in Lucknow: Terror strike rock state on eve of last phase polling

ATS, based on "concrete" information, had gone to apprehend Saifullah, suspected of involvement in Bhopal train blast, from a house in Thakurganj when he suddenly opened fire on them

Uttar Pradesh Anti-terrorist squad (ATS) has holed up a terror suspect in Thakurganj area of Lucknow. The ATS squad has cordoned off the locality. As per the latest reports, shots were fired by suspected terrorist at the ATS team. The operation is underway. The suspect has been identified as Saifullah and he is believed to be from Madhya Pradesh. Tear gas is being used to flush out the suspect.

Based on “concrete” information from intelligence, the ATS had gone to apprehend Saiful who is suspected of involvement in the blast in a train in Madhya Pradesh, from a house in Haji colony of Thakurganj area when he suddenly opened fire on the team.

Later, while addressing the media personnel, The IG ATS said,” We had received information today about a suspect present in Thakurganj area who is involved in a terror case. Following the leads, we conducted the raids here.”

“The moment we knocked the door, the suspect locked the room and then we heard a sound of cocking of the pistol. The suspect has weapons, ammunition with him but he is alone there, no hostage and nobody else is present there,” added IG ATS.

The train explosion happened on March 7 in the passenger train going to Ujjain from Bhopal left eight people injured.

Here are the highlights:

7: 30 PM: A restrained Op managed by senior officers.Need few more hours to finish the Op.Want to investigate the suspect in detail: ADG Law & Order

6: 36 PM: The suspect is firing intermittently, but we have stopped firing: IG ATS

6: 26 PM: Meanwhile, IG ATS gives briefing to the media personnel present at the spot

Had received information today about a suspect present in Thakurganj area involved in a terror case, we conducted raids here:IG ATS pic.twitter.com/YCLivTZ9OZ

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 7, 2017

The moment we knocked the door, the suspect locked the room and then we heard a sound of cocking of pistol: IG ATS #Lucknow pic.twitter.com/gjs1y7bsUb

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 7, 2017

The suspect has weapons, ammunition with him but he is alone there, no hostage and nobody else present there: IG ATS #Lucknow pic.twitter.com/lWWNtfbcYj

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 7, 2017

In order to arrest him alive, we used chilli bombs but he has not come out yet. He is firing intermittently: IG ATS pic.twitter.com/x3i9oxtcJZ

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 7, 2017


6: 19 PM: A total of 20 rounds have been fired, ambulance called in.

Suspect holed up by security forces in Lucknow’s Thakurganj area, a total of 20 rounds have been fired, ambulance called in pic.twitter.com/8BPrtM9P5K

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 7, 2017

6: 14 PM: Latest visuals from Thakurganj area of Lucknow

Latest visuals from Thakurganj area of Lucknow, where a suspect is holed up by UP ATS (visuals deferred by unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/AjFekQmsNV

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 7, 2017

5: 54 PM: It was a IED blast, 3 arrested from Pipariya: Makrand Devaskar, IG Law & order, MP

5: 52 PM: MP’s IG Law & order Makrand Devaskar confirms Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train explosion that took place today was a terrorist attack.

5: 44 PM: Search operation still underway.

5: 28 PM: Saifullah refused to surrender, media reports

5: 22 PM: Centre government monitoring the situation

5: 14 PM: Hope to arrest him soon, will interrogate thereafter: ADG (Law & Order) Daljit Chaudhary on suspect present inside building in Thakurganj.

5: 12 PM: We are suspecting presence of only one suspect inside the building, input came in from outside the state: ADG.

5: 10 PM: The suspect inside the building is possibly from Lucknow, we suspect that he has weapons: ADG.

5: 09 PM: One suspect arrested from Kanpur, the second one is inside a building in Thakurganj. He has not come out yet: Daljit Chaudhary.

5: 08 PM: Had received inputs about presence of some suspects in Kanpur and Lucknow, our senior officials searched:ADG (Law & Order) Daljit Chaudhary.

ADG (Law & Order) Daljit Chaudhary (PIC ANI)

5: 06 PM: At least 20 commandos are involved in the operation. High level security meet is underway in Lucknow to assess the situation.

5: 04 PM: The meeting is being held between the Home department and the police officers. Ministry of Home Affairs is closely monitoring the situation

5: 02 PM: The terrorist is believed to have been involved in the train blast that took place near Bhopal earlier on Tuesday.

Efforts are on to nab the terrorist alive

Suspected terrorist holed up by UP ATS in Thakurganj area of Lucknow. Operation in progress. (Visuals deferred by unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/fHDHM7b2tQ

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 7, 2017

The attack happened a day before the last phase of the assembly elections in the state.