Amidst all the television frenzy following the arrest of dreaded terrorist Yasin Bhatkal, a family of three residing in a narrow lane of Abul Fazl Enclave in Jamia Nagar of Delhi, heaved a sigh of relief. Bhatkal’s family — wife Zahida and mother-in-law (Mehajani) — have no qualms over his arrest.
For Mehajani, he is not only an enemy of the country but also responsible for ruining her daughter’s life. “We are happy that he (Bhatkal) has been arrested. He betrayed the family besides perpetrating attacks across the country,” said a family member.
The family was also relieved in the hope that his arrest might put an end to frequent police visits to their home seeking information about his whereabouts apart from informing the family of his involvements in anti-national activities.
Bhatkal’s arrest has also given them renewed hope that Mehajani’s husband Mohammed Irshad Khan, who was arrested by the Delhi Police, will be released. Two years ago, Irshad was arrested by Special Cell who, in a pan-India operation, arrested five other handlers for their involvement in terror attacks across the country since 2006.
Bhatkal, who was known to his wife and in-laws as Shahrukh, never came to see his family after 2008 when a series of blasts rocked the Capital and several other Indian cities. His wife,
Zahida, 23, teaches the Qu’ran for free to children in her neighbourhood.
Her neighbours said that she does not like talking about her husband. “She is devout and spends her time teaching at a madrassa The family has been facing hardship trying to eke out a livelihood,” said a neighbour.
Notably, the Special Cell had raided D5/1 (where the family stays) in 2011 in search of Bhatkal. Police arrested his father-in-law Irshad from Chennai instead. Police had recovered `30,000 and an M16 A1 rifle box from Yasin’s room.
The room on the ground floor of the house, where Bhatkal once lived with Zahida, remains locked.