Delhi police shoot 'bomb suspect'

Delhi police shoot 'bomb suspect'
Police at the scene of the shoot-out
Police say they have secured the area where the shoot-out happened

A top Islamic militant suspected of involvement in the wave of bomb attacks on Indian cities has been killed in a shoot-out in Delhi, police say.

They say the man identified as Atif was killed with another man in a "fierce exchange" of gunfire at a house in the mainly Muslim Jamia Nagar district.

Two Indian policemen were injured in the operation and a third suspect was captured alive.

At least 20 people died in a multiple bomb attack on Delhi last week.

Serial bombings

News channels showed an ambulance taking away a bloodied person from the crowded site of Friday's gun battle.

A large contingent of policemen had surrounded the four-storey home where the suspected militants were supposed to be hiding, witnesses told the BBC.

Protests against last weekend's bomb attacks in Delhi
Police are under pressure to catch the bombers

Delhi Police Commissioner YS Dadhwal said that one of the men killed was a senior leader of the Indian Mujahideen, a group which claimed responsibility for last weeks serial bombings in the capital.

The group, which is relatively unknown, is also believed to be behind similar attacks in the cities of Jaipur and Ahmedabad.

"The police were firing at the fourth and top storey of the building," one eyewitness said.

"A lot of people had gathered around the building."

Police arrived at the house after receiving information that some "suspected militants" were hiding there, senior Delhi police official Karnail Singh told reporters.

"They opened fire on the police when we approached the house," he said.

"Two of our men, including an inspector, were injured."

The two militants were killed during the ensuing gun battle and one was arrested, he added.

On Wednesday, Delhi police issued sketches of three men who they believe were involved in the attacks.

About 90 people were injured when the five devices went off in busy shopping areas within minutes of each other.

On Thursday, India revealed plans to upgrade its intelligence-gathering ability following a spate of bombings.

A new centre will be established to research surveillance and preventative measures and become a focus for counter-terrorism strategies.