By P. Jayaram, India Correspondent

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Indian police shot dead two alleged Islamic militants during a fierce gun battle in a Muslim area of New Delhi yesterday, including a leader of a shadowy group behind a spate of deadly bombings.

He is also believed to have played a major role in last weekend's bombings in the capital which killed 23 people.

Police say the outfit is a front organisation of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (Simi), of which Atiq is said to be a key associate.

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