NEW DELHI, March 9 (Xinhua) -- The Indian government said Thursday that it was proud of the father of a terrorist with alleged links to Islamic State.
The so-called IS terrorist was killed in a gunbattle by security forces in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh's capital Lucknow on Wednesday.
Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that the government expressed its sympathy for the slain 22-year-old terrorist Saifullah's father Mohammed Sartaj who has disowned his son and even refused to accept his body, denouncing him as a traitor.
"I express sympathy for the father and I am sure the House joins me... the government is proud of Mohammed Sartaj (father of slain terrorist) and I am sure you are too," Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh told the Parliament.
Saifullah was killed by security forces in a hideout in Lucknow after a 12-hour operation. Though commandos tried to capture him alive, he refused to surrender. After he was shot, an Islamic State flag and a train timetable were discovered near his body.
Investigators have said he and other members of his group -- "self-proclaimed as an ISIS cell" -- was responsible for Tuesday's explosion on a train in the neighbouring central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh in which 10 people were injured.
Saifullah's father on Wednesday refused to accept his body, saying "One who could not belong to the country, how can he belong to me?"
