New Delhi: Foiling an attempt of Pakistan's Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) to set up a base in the national capital, police shot dead a militant belonging to the outfit in South West Delhi early on May 22 morning.

The militant, identified as Arif Mohammad Khan, was killed in an encounter with the sleuths of Delhi police's special cell at Nazafgarh, where he had built his own house, joint commissioner (special cell) Neeraj Kumar told reporters.

He said that Arif was his assumed name and his real identity was Abdul Aziz, a resident of Bhawalpur district of Punjab in Pakistan.

Kumar said the militant had sneaked into the country two-and-half years ago and was changing places quite often till he purchased a plot in Nazafgarh and built a small house.

He had been staying at several places in Uttar Pradesh before moving into the national capital.

The militant had also married a local girl with his assumed Indian identity and also managed to procure a driving license and a ration card for himself.

Police recovered one AK 47, four magazines, 92 rounds and six hand grenades from the site of the encounter, Kumar said.

The militant was tasked to set up a local base in the national capital for his outfit members to carry out subversive activities, he added.

"The militant was acting as a sleeping agent for LeT in the national capital and we suspect involvement of some more persons," Kumar said adding that a manhunt has been launched to nab them.

To a question whether procurement of driving license and ration card would also be probed, Kumar said, "Yes, obviously. Nobody will be spared."

It may be mentioned that LeT chief Hafiz Saeed had directed his men in Pakistan during a congregation recently to carry out suicide attack on important installations in the national capital like Parliament building and India Gate.

PTI