Two terrorists belonging to Madhurai based, Islamic Liberation Force were nabbed at Puttoor town in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh yesterday. Bilal Malik and Panna Ismail, suspected in several terrorist activities were nabbed from a private house.

Along with two others, they were wanted in connection with the planting of a pipe bomb on the yatra route of senior BJP leader L.K. Advani in 2011 near Tirumanglam in Madurai district.

Andhra Pradesh In-charge Director General of Police, Prasada Rao said in Hyderabad that the joint operation was carried by State Police, Tamil Nadu Police Force and Octopus, a counter terror commando force.

The operation went on for more than 10 hours as the terrorists locked themselves in the house along with Bilal’s wife and his three children.

A pistol, some pipe bombs and IEDs were seized from a nearby hideout. Later the Octopus teams along with a team from Army defused six ready to use IEDs. A Tamil Nadu police officer was injured when the terrorists opened fire. One of the terrorists, Ismail was also injured.

Tamil Nadu police got a tip-off from suspected militant Fakruddin who was arrested yesterday in Chennai. He is the prime suspect in the murder of a Tamil Nadu BJP leader.