File photo of Indian police officials. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
Seventy-year-old Abdul Karim Tunda, an alleged member of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) group, was arrested by a special Delhi police team near India's border with Nepal Friday.
"This arrest is a huge achievement for the country's security agencies," S N Srivastava, Special Commissioner of police, told a news conference in the national capital.
Police accused Tunda of being a "well-known LeT explosive expert and terrorist" and said he was sought for his alleged role in 1993 serial blasts in Mumbai which killed at least 250 people in a single day.
The 1993 attacks targeted hotels, offices, buildings and banks in India's financial hub and were seen as retaliation for religious rioting in which mainly Muslims died following the razing of an ancient mosque.
He also "masterminded" bomb blasts in Delhi in 1997-98 and serial bombings elsewhere in the country, Srivastava told reporters.
"Tunda is one of India's most wanted and his name figures in the list of top 20 terrorists. We arrested him from Indo-Nepal border. He had a Pakistani passport with him," Srivastava said.
The man alleged to have planned the 1993 Mumbai blasts, underworld boss Dawood Ibrahim, is still at large.
The arrest comes as India has been stepping up efforts to improve domestic security since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, in which 10 gunmen laid siege to the city, killing 166 people.
India blames the LeT on carrying out the 2008 Mumbai attacks that badly strained relations between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
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The guy sneaking into India via Nepal only shows how terrifically Indian Army has manned the LoC, that they have to take a long route onto India.
Earlier Bangladesh allowed ISI to send its Mujahideen, now that the Govt has changed so have the polices in Bangladesh.
Now, Nepal is being used, but India has a lot of influence in Nepal and this gap can be plugged too.
@PROPAK : Another fake terrorist to make endians happy.. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Abdul Karim Tunda's family believe nothing of the sort and it is reported that Tunda's family are relieved at his arrest and demand his stringent punishment.
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/1875850/report-tunda-s-family-relieved-at-his-arrest-demands-stringent-punishment
Please show us his original Pakistani passport Indian government seized and as well as original Pakistani ID card also to prove him Pakistani because you must have with you your original ID card with original passport.....
Did Indian government show his Pakistani Passport before the media till now and if not why? And secondly first if a person gets Pakistani passport and then later joins any militant's group then does it mean that Pakistani government or army or ISI is supports him? How childish attitude Indian government and Indians are showing and also are rejoicing over it as well.
A terrorist is a terrorist no matter which part of the world he belongs to or which passport he holds. I as a Pakistani am glad to know that a person who killed or helped to kill human beings in any part of the world has been arrested.
@SKChadha:
"Probably, a small old Goat is sacrificed for peace negotiations? Come fast and sacrifice big healthy animals."
Astute observation! This looks like a peace offering by Nawaz Sharif. Indian intelligence outfits are so incompetent, I doubt they did this "catching" on their own efforts. Even in the case of the Mumbai terror attack, it was the inputs from the CIA that helped India tie the attack to Pakistan and LeT.
I have no doubt that this Tunda character was offered to India by the Pakistani establishment to diffuse the rising tensions. Nawaz Sharif is definitely committed to peace with India. He must have done is work to convince the military establishment and the ISI to give up one lower level LeT operative as a proof of Pakistan's sincerity to take the peace process forward.
This is a very intelligent move by Sharif and the ISI. They give up a low level LeT operative while doing nothing on the big fish of the LeT outfit that includes Hafiz Saeed, the real perpetrators of 26/11 Mumbai attack.
Another fake terrorist to make endians happy..
@Blithe @Xnain
Jokes on you pal.
Kenyan police say it's Olatunde, not `Tunda' (2006)
"http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/25/stories/2006072517681200.htm"
@Asif Butt: I agree to your comment except the last sentence. We Indians are awoken to the dastardly attacks on Indian soil, be it the Mumbai attack, killings at the border, Parliament, etc. If all this stops, we will worry more on our everyday life.
come on India don't allow any pakistani to India whether he is prime minister of pakistan and cricket player of pakistan.all under same umbrella.total in and out close forever. we will never go pakistan and we will never allow pakistani.
@Asif, I don't think you would be echoing those sentiments if 85-90% of Indian muslims were forced to flee to Pakistan, as was done to Hindus and Sikhs. Its grossly incorrect to equate the two states.
@Last Word: He is safe on land and exhorts warriors to go jump in the sea of jihad.If he is so fired up he should be upfront and ready to go to Heaven or where one does after he is gone.
@Blithe: Excuses,Excuses, and more Excuses
Possessing a Pakistani passport ain't much of a difficulty for a long time. Don't believe me? Ask RAW. They have been making the same for people, whom they infiltrate into Pakistan through border to carryout attacks here.
As for this 'Tunda', there is a likelihood that Indian government may have themselves made one for him.
Congrats to Indians on their achievement.
But it is a collective failure so far for both Pakistan & India.
The best picture being that there can be a day that Indian & Pakistani security agencies having joint desks in each others office to help aid locally in interrogations.
These historically repeating border firing/shelling/killing dramas/events are very harmful for actual justice.
We are fond of cursing and further distancing each other after such events.
Terrorism has ONLY FLOURISHED due to the arrogance of both nations.
The governments are not to blame. They have always tried to mend on both sides.
But the people at both side have made it a matter of their pride & vanity.
he had pakistani passport so it clear one more time where is the heaven of terrorists.
@Hafiz:
i didnt get a word of what you just said :S
They were high, they were misbehaving, they got a shock when they saw their multimillion dollar asset exploding into ashes, they started to behave, but here comes yet another drama to get them all high again, and from this comments indicate that high they are.
@Xnain: Good point!
Another deja vou moment for India ... Indian intelligence is a joke!
So he was 50 when he allegedly planted the bombs !
Took them 20 years to find !
At age 70 he was coming for India again? ! ! !
Whose a fool here
Probably, a small old Goat is sacrificed for peace negotiations? Come fast and sacrifice big healthy animals.
@khokhar
Watching too many hollywood movies aren't we.
@Blithe: @khokhar:
"Nobody in Pakistsn knows who he is! It could be a case of mistaken identity or he could be framed. Or it could even be concocted story to cover up the submarine disaster in India ."
Read the article that is written in simple words.
Nowhere does it say that he was a Pakistani. It only says that he had a Pakistani passport.
Google Abu Hamza and find out how he had a green passport as well.
@ironMan!:
"70 yr old mastermind lol, been plotting in india since 1993 and was un-caught! Kudos to him, indian intelligence..yet another failure!"
I agree that Indian intelligence is a joke.
But why Kudos to a murderer? What makes you happy about a murderer that killed Indians?
Could you please explain?
@khokhar: You might be knowing about your country how you peoples sending spies/terrorists but it proved by terrorist - Abdul Karim Tunda.
Let me add another twist to the story. He has already been caught in 2006 by Kenyan Police! Another Indian Topi Drama after they had yet another facepalm last week. link text
another proof that terrorist who carried out 40 bombing blast is an pakistani with evidence pakistani passport.
ironMan!: "70 yr old mastermind lol, been plotting in india since 1993 and was un-caught! Kudos to him, indian intelligence..yet another failure!"
How is it failure of Indian Intelligence if he was living freely if your pious country of Pakistan? In fact, it is the success of Indian Intelligence that he got caught at Indo-Nepal border! India has given a list of most wanted people to Pakistan many times, many of whom roam around freely in Pakistan and nothing done against them! And all you Pakistanis are first to blame India when these same terrorists do bomb blasts inside Pakistan! How is that possible that they are supported by India if India itself wants them but Pakistan won't hand them over to India? No Pakistani has any right to blame Indian Intelligence agencies when their own agency has fallen prey and itself gave direct support to "good talibanis" for so many years and still continues to do the same.
here we go.this is being more and more frustrating that terror outfit sourcing from the country.it is know to all country people that the involvement of terrorism but still they do not agree intentionally. they always tell lie intentionally even though they know the truth.this is how country wasting social and economical balance.hopeless people don't understand what they are doing and what could be the effect.even after 66 years they are running on darkness. I never said stop all these nonsense agenda, keep it up and learn by making repetitive mistake that would be proper lesson.
Where are all the warriors from Denialistan ?
Why is Hafiz Sayeed hiding in Pakistan and threatening India so many times but never showed the guts to come here to liberate Kashmir ? He can choose to enter India by land, air or sea, is assured to be given a hot reception and comfortable stay in this country.
Nobody in Pakistsn knows who he is! It could be a case of mistaken identity or he could be framed. Or it could even be concocted story to cover up the submarine disaster in India .
Good work India. Purge the jihadis from south asia.
Seems to be easy for Lashkar e Toiba terrorists like Abdul Karim Tunda to get hold of Pakistani passports.
Anyway he was carrying a Pakistani Passport No AC 4413161 issued on 23 January, 2013 in the name of Abdul Quddus. See here: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Arrested-Lashkar-terrorist-Abdul-Karim-Tunda-was-carrying-Pakistani-passport-Delhi-Police/articleshow/21878955.cms
Previously Lashkar e Toiba terrorist Syed Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal who was arrested in and deported from Saudi Arabia was also found to have Pakistani passport. See here for details: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/zabiuddin-lived-in-saudi-arabia-on-pakistani-passport-and-a-pseudonym/article3599439.ece
Lol, its amazing how all the escaped terrorists or mafia dons are arrested at indo-nepal border. Its a open border with free movement of people, thats where all the people who are actually detained on foreign land are brought and handed over to police.
tiger mennon was also arrested over there while her wife alleged that he was nabbed in dubai and shipped to nepal.
See you soon at nepal border mr saeed.
Dear ET. I appriciate the way u publish ur news Thanx
70 yr old mastermind lol, been plotting in india since 1993 and was un-caught! Kudos to him, indian intelligence..yet another failure!
Where is Maulana Masood Azar.......Who was released In Indian airlines hijacking.......
Hafiz Saeed ke muh mein ghee-shakkar. Mr.Hafiz said that Inshallah he will go to India soon. I think the time might be sooner rather than later. Adbul Karim was a very close aide of Mr.Hafiz and his arrest is an amazing coup for the Indian agencies. Apparently, he was nabbed with the help of UAE sleuths who were tracking him. Hopefully, he will sing like a lark.
Well done India