2008 'Delhi Serial Blast' accused in MCD election fray

The 2008 Delhi Serial Blast accused, who was arrested in Batla House encounter in which a Delhi Police Inspector and two alleged Indian Mujahideen (IM) terrorists were killed, has filled his nomination for upcoming Municipal Corporation of Delhi election fray from Zakir Nagar area in order to reportedly resurge his lost prestige, which was lost after his name was linked to IM and 2008 Delhi Serial Blast.

A twenty six year old Zia-ur-Rehman is an allegedly member of a Terrorist Group Indian Mujahideen (IM) and had been arrested for allegedly conducting serial blasts in Delhi in 2008 in which 26 people were killed. The Police arrested him from Baatla Nagar, a nearby area of Zakir Nagar after an encounter that became famous as 'Baatla Nagar encounter.

Zia-ur-Rehman is currently in Ahmedabad Central Jail and is facing the trial of 35 cases, which trials are yet to begin.

Zia has filled nominations from the jail and his family members who live in Zakir Nagar have begun campaigning for him. They believe that he will win this MCD election as the residents of Zakir Nagar know the truth.

"At first, we were not ready to fight the elections but later, we realised that the fight for justice for a son is harder than fighting the elections," says Zia's 63-year-old father Abdul Rehman.

Some residents of the area motivated to Zia's family to enroll his name for upcoming MCD election, as Zia's supporters winning in this election is not so important as viewing the reaction of the people regarding Batla House encounter case.

The Zakir Nagar ward also includes areas like Kalindi Colony and Timur Nagar.

Zia may face stiff competition from sitting congress councillor Shoeb Danish and BJP candidate Yasir Jilani.

--With Agencies Input--