Akshardham attack: How Intelligence ensured that Ajmeri’s luck ran out

Ajmeri was always on the radar of the agencies. He managed to change his locations several times and post the attack he had fled to Saudi Arabia.

The arrest of Abdul Rashid Ajmeri, a key accused in the Akshardham Temple attack is a major breakthrough for security agencies. The arrest was made 15 years since the attack at the temple in Gujarat.

The agencies had suffered a major set back when the Supreme Court had acquitted six accused in the case including those who were awarded a death sentence.

Ajmeri was always on the radar of the agencies. He managed to change his locations several times and post the attack he had fled to Saudi Arabia. A recent input that was picked up by the Intelligence agencies suggested that Ajmeri may try and visit Gujarat.

A call intercept was picked up where he was heard telling his brother that he would visit him soon. However he did not specify the date and time of his visit. There was heavy surveillance following this intercept. An officer informed that they had picked up another intercept when Ajmeri had decided to come down to India from Riyadh. Upon his arrival he was arrested from the Ahmedabad airport.

Ajmeri is accused of conspiring the attack that took place on September 24 2002. Terrorists stormed the temple and killed 30 devotees.

OneIndia News