New Delhi: A major terror plot in the national capital was foiled with the late night killing of two Jaish-e- Mohammed terrorists, arrest of three persons, seizure of a truck laden with huge cache of arms and ammunition and recovery of 21 kgs of explosives.

The militants, including a Pakistani, were killed at around 10.45 pm in Indraprastha Park under Nizamuddin police station, nearly three hours after police seized a truck in the Sadar Bazar area in Central Delhi carrying 10 hand grenades, 10 grenade shells, one Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) and arrested its three occupants.

The militants -- Zahoor Ahmed of Pakistan and Habibullah -- were killed after police tried to intercept them following a lead provided by three persons -- Pervez Ahmed, Feroz Ahmed and Noor Mohammad -- who were occupants of the truck carrying three boxes filled with ammunition, Joint Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Neeraj Kumar told reporters at the spot.

An AK-56 rifle, its two magazines with 30 rounds each and two loaded Chinese pistols besides Rs two lakh in cash were recovered from the slain terrorists, he said.

The terrorists arrested with the truck in Sadar Bazar had told police that the consignment was to be delivered to two of their associates at Indraprastha Park, Kumar said.

Following this, a police team reached the park where they noticed a white Maruti Zen car with two occupants. When intercepted, the occupants left the car and tried to flee towards the park while firing at the cops, he said.

Police retaliated and in the ensuing brief encounter, the militants were killed at the entrance of the park on the Outer Ring Road near Nizamuddin Bridge, the Jt CP said.

Earlier, at around 7.30 pm police arrested the truck driver and cleaner, both Kashmiris, when they were handing over three fruit boxes containing the arms to Noor Mohammad, Kumar said.

Noor Mohammad had to deliver the consignment to the two slain terrorists, he said, adding after the encounter the slain militants were identified by him.

The truck bearing registration number JK-03-0153 was intercepted on a day when JeM's Chief Commander in India and the mastermind behind Parliament attack two years ago Ghazi Baba was shot dead in Srinagar.

Police were on the lookout for the truck following a tip-off that terrorists were planning a major strike and arms and ammunition would be arriving in the capital for the purpose.

Delhi Police was virtually on toes throughout the day with the recovery of 150 gelatine sticks weighing 21.2 kgs at a platform at busy New Delhi Railway Station in a bag. Even as it was on the lookout for persons behind it, police nabbed a man at Nizamuddin Railway Station and recovered Rs 77 lakh cash.

Kumar said police had information that terrorists "want to carry out a major strike in the capital and we are on alert". Connaught Place was one of the targets of the terrorists.

He, however, ruled out any direct link between the recovery of explosives at New Delhi Railway Station and the events in Sadar Bazar and Indraprastha Park.

He also denied any link between the shootout here and killing of Ghazi Baba, except that both are from JeM.

PTI