Co-founder of banned terror group Indian Mujahideen (IM) Yasin Bhatkal has given vital information about his brother and co-accused in several terror cases Riyaz Bhatkal.
Riyaz is also one of the founding members of IM and receives patronage from ISI to target India. Sources said, Yasin has revealed that ISI was using the services of Riyaz and Iqbal Bhatkal, key IM brains, to target Indian cities. He also told investigators that Amir Reza Khan, Riyaz and Iqbal Bhatkal besides Abdul Subhan Qureshi, alias Tauqeer, are currently housed in the high security Defence Housing Authority in Karachi, under ISI protection. Though Yasin has admitted to involvement in Pune, Varanasi and Hyderabad bomb blasts, he has denied any role in the Bodh Gaya blasts.
Yasin, however, spoke about “atrocities” against Rohingya Muslims and investigators believe he may throw light on IM’s role in Bodh Gaya. Yasin, alias Dr Imran, is accused of plotting and executing over 50 blasts in India, killing 272 people and maiming over a 1,000. During interrogation, NIA sleuths and Intelligence agencies will focus on unraveling IM's larger conspiracy, its affiliation with terror groups like lashkar-e-Tayyeba, IM’s active modules, sleeper cells and training facilities.
He is also being grilled on leT’s networking in India, including IM, the outfit’s members who frequent the Indo-Nepal border where gangster Dawood Ibrahim has made significant investments in madrassa, modern educational institutions, fake currency racket, funding of IM and key operatives’ activities. Two laptops, four mobile phones and a large number of CDs and DVDs seized from the duo are being analysed for gathering further leads.
The NIA plans to take the duo to different States for further investigation. Bhatkal, 30, was earlier actively associated with banned Students Islamic Movement of India and is alleged to have conspired to develop different modules and sleeper cells in Delhi, Darbhanga in Bihar, Nanded, Mumbai, Pune, Bhatkal in Karnataka and Hyderabad. They are accused of conspiring to wage war against Government of India.
NIA was on Friday given 12-day police remand of Yasin and Asadullah Akhtar alias Haddi by a designated court. The NIA did not register a fresh case after nabbing the duo from the Indo-Nepal border and arrested them under the FIR registered on September 10 last year. Apart from Yasin and Akhtar, the NIA has named ten people as accused in the case. They include Riyaz Bhatkal, Iqbal Bhatkal, Mohsin Chaudhary, Amir Reza Khan, Tahsin Akhtar, Shahnawaz Alam, Ariz Khan, Mohammad Sajid, Mohammad Khalid and Mirza Shadab Beg. They all carried a reward of Rs 10 lakh for information leading to their arrest.
The NIA had on July 17 filed a charge sheet against five arrested accused Mohammad Danish Ansari, Mohammad Aftab Alam, Imran Khan, Syed Maqbool and Obaid-ur-Rehman under various sections of IPC and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Yasin and other accused were listed as absconders in the charge sheet.
Yasin has revealed that the ISI and its operatives were exploiting eight bordering districts of Bihar with Nepal for channeling fake Indian notes, arms and explosives. Investigators said IM bosses decided to shift base to Bihar when security agencies launched a search for Bhatkal and other IM operatives. Bihar was selected as it was not on the radar of Intelligence agencies.
Interrogation of IM module busted earlier by Delhi Police had revealed that poverty and unemployment in North Bihar were exploited by IM and they recruited young men with ease by offering them cash. Bihar also suited IM as they could easily send subversives to safety via Indo-Nepal border. Most importantly, ISI is not prepared to let go of IM and would continue to support it, officials said.
Madhubani, Kishanganj, Sitamarshi, Motihari, Forbesganj and Saharsa became easy hunting ground for IM and also provided an easy access to anybody who wished to enter or exit India through the Nepal-Bihar border. This area was frequented by Yasin who handpicked recruits.
Investigations have found many sleeper cells in Bihar that have been used to provide logistics and foot soldiers for terror strikes in other parts of the country. The outfit also used migrant labourers as courier boys for planting bombs, which made the job of tracking the culprits harder for State police and security agencies.
