By IANS,
New Delhi : The bylanes of the densely populated Jamia Nagar wore a deserted look Saturday morning as residents kept indoors and shops were shut, a day after the normally-congested South Delhi neighbourhood witnessed high drama when two terrorists were killed in a shootout with police.
There was heavy deployment of police around Batla House, the scene of the action. Police claim to have busted the terror module responsible for the spate of bombings in Indian cities, including the one in Delhi last Saturday, with the killing of two terrorists and the arrest of another. Two terrorists escaped.
The markets in the area had shut down Friday and the shutters remained closed Saturday.
“Generally markets in the area open by 8 a.m. and fruit and vegetable markets get crowded by this time. But they are shut,” fruit juice seller Mohamed Akram said Saturday morning.
The people in Jamia Nagar had shouted anti-police slogans Friday alleging the shootout was a fake encounter. But by Saturday, at least some seem to have accepted that it was real.
Delhi Police Inspector M.C. Sharma was killed in the shootout.
“The death of Sharma proves that the shootout was real. However, the people here feel that Delhi Police could have coordinated the shootout in a more organised manner,” A.H. Khan, a resident of K Block in Batla house, said.
The two terrorists killed – identified as Atif and Sajid – were suspected to be involved in the bombings in the capital a week ago.
According to Batla House residents, they had no idea that the people staying in L-18 were terrorists.
“There are so many flats that it is not possible to keep track of all the people residing in the housing complex. Many people stay here,” another resident, B.A Khan said.
Schools in the area remained closed for the second consecutive day Saturday. Some schools have put up a notice saying that classes will resume Monday.
“Our half-yearly exams were on but we have been told that Saturday’s exam is cancelled and school will open Monday,” seven-year-old Arif, a student of St Giri school in Jamia Nagar, said.