Ahmedabad, November 26: The Ahmedabad Crime Branch has arrested Mohammed Farooq Shaikh, an accused in the 2002 case of attack on Akshardham temple.

Shaikh was absconding for the last 16 years and the crime branch reportedly arrested him on a tip-off.

Shaikh was nabbed by the Crime Branch from Ahmedabad airport, soon after his arrival from Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, Assistant Commissioner of Police Bhagrithsinh Gohil told PTI.

Two armed terrorists had attacked the temple in Gandhinagar, killing 30 people and injuring eight on September 24, 2002. The attack followed the Godhra riots in the same year. NIA Arrests Transporter in Connection with Terror Funding Case.

"Shaikh lived in Juhapura before he fled to Riyadh in 2002 after the temple attack," the police official said, adding Shaikh had arranged funds for the attack.

On 24 September 2002, two armed men attacked the Akshardham Temple complex at Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India.

30 people died in the attack by the terrorists and more than 80 sustained injured in the attacks.

The National Security Guard (NSG) commandos had to take part in the operations and the siege ended the next day. Both the terrorists were killed in the operation by the NSG.

(With PTI Inputs)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 26, 2018 06:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).