Pleased as punch over the arrest of key IM operative Yasin Bhatkal, the Maharashtra Police on Thursday readied themselves to question him for his role in eight cases, including in three major blasts, and IM modules operating in Mumbai, Pune and other parts of the State.
As Maharashtra Home Minister RR Patil profusely complimented the Indian intelligence agencies for Yasin’s arrest, State Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) sleuths felt that Thursday’s development would come in handy for them in not only nailing him down for his involvement in the 2010 German Bakery blasts and 13/7 Mumbai triple blasts, but also decimating the IM modules operating in various parts of the State.
In the coming days, the ATS sleuths will seek Yasin’s formal arrest for interrogation in various cases. “He is a prize catch for us. We had been intensely looking for him for the last three years. With his arrest,we expect to take the major cases like February 2010 German bakery blasts, July 13, 2011 triple bombings in Mumbai and August 1, 2012 serial blasts in Pune to a logical conclusion,” a senior state ATS official said.