The Delhi Police Special Cell has apprehended one of the most wanted terrorists associated with the terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, identified as Javed Mattu, a senior police official said on Thursday.

Mattoo was arrested from around the DND flyway area at the forenoon of Thursday, the police said, adding that a 9mm pistol and a spare magazine was recovered from him, while the vehicle he was using was found to be stolen.

According to the Special Cell, days ago, information was received that a dreaded wanted terrorist from J&K belonging to the banned terrorist Hizbul Mujahideen would be coming to the NCR to collect arms and ammunition.

Acting on the input, the police kept tabs on sleeper cells and weapon suppliers were activated.

As per the latest inputs received by police, Mattu was to arrive in Delhi to collect arms and ammunition from his associates allegedly at the behest of an agency across the border agency.

The police further said that according to the input, his Pakistan-based handler would be coordinating the delivery of arms and ammunition, and Mattu would carry out some audacious terror strikes in J&K and at another place on the instructions of his handler.

A case under appropriate sections has been registered in this regard at Police Station Special Cell and further probe is underway in the matter, investigation is underway.

The police said further investigation will be initiated in the connection of his arrest with the police custody remand.

The arrested terrorist was carrying a bounty of Rs 10 lakh and was the last surviving A++ category designated terrorist, who was involved in various acts of terror in the Jammu and Kashmir’s Sopore in 2010, 2011 and 2012, till the time he was injured with a bullet injury on his leg.

He is a member of the gang of seven dreaded terrorists of Hizbul Mujahideen. His previous involvements include killing of five police personnel, causing injuries to dozens of other police personnel and public, and an IED blast in Sopore J&K.

After being injured in an exchange of fire with security forces, he went underground and fled to Nepal, while the J&K police was chasing him.

This major breakthrough by the Special Cell in association with the Central agencies is an outcome of the stepped up sensitivity maintained by the special unit as per its mandate in wake of the upcoming Republic Day with the police being on an alert.