Accused In 2002 Akshardham Temple Attack in Gujarat Arrested

Two armed terrorists had attacked the Akshardham temple, killing 30 people and injuring eight on 24 September 2002.

Mohammed Farooq Shaikh was nabbed by the Crime Branch from Ahmedabad airport on Monday. 

(Photo: ANI/akshardham.com/Altered by The Quint)

The police on Monday, 26 November, arrested an accused in the 2002 Akshardham temple terror attack case, moments after he alighted from a flight in Ahmedabad.

Mohammed Farooq Shaikh was nabbed by the Crime Branch from Ahmedabad airport, soon after his arrival from Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, Assistant Commissioner of Police Bhagrithsinh Gohil told PTI.

Two armed terrorists had attacked the temple in Gandhinagar, killing 30 people and injuring eight on 24 September 2002. The attack followed the Godhra riots in the same year.

The accused had been absconding for the last 16 years.

"Shaikh lived in Juhapura (in Ahmedabad) before he fled to Riyadh in 2002 after the temple attack," the police official said, adding that Shaikh had arranged funds for the attack.

According to the Times of India, the accused had come to Ahmedabad to meet his relatives.

(With inputs from PTI and The Times of India.)