‘Yasin Bhatkal admits to jihad, mum on outfit’s future plans’

Mohammad Ahmad Siddibapa alias Yasin Bhatkal has given a list of global and local happenings, which he termed as the persecution of Muslims, as the justification for his jihad against India, sources told HT.

Mohammad Ahmad Siddibapa alias Yasin Bhatkal has given a list of global and local happenings, which he termed as the persecution of Muslims, as the justification for his jihad against India, sources told HT.

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“Happenings in Iraq and Afghanistan were also listed by Yasin as the reasons behind his bomb planting spree. During the initial round of questioning, Yasin had very promptly admitted his role in bomb blasts, especially from the beginning of 2010. But when it comes to his outfit’s future plans or hideouts of his accomplices on the run, he is not forthcoming,” said a source.

Security agencies and sleuths from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) are now chasing some of his close accomplices like Tehseen Akhtar alias Monu and Ariz Khan alias Junaid, who have been suspected to be the conspirators in Hyderabad’s Dilsukhnagar twin blasts in February this year.

Sources say Ariz Khan alias Junaid was an electrician and used to make electrical circuits for improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by the group.

“Yasin is a very motivated and hardcore jihadi. Though, a 10th class dropout, he is very articulate and seems to be well read as well,” said the source.

Investigators say it was Yasin who re-grouped the Indian Mujahideen after the crackdown of 2008. He got new recruits, trained them and brought Pakistani terrorists on the instructions of his handlers like Riyaz and Iqbal Bhatkal to India.

“Yasin, in fact, organised a traning camp for his new recruits in Darbhanga wherein they practiced target shooting and fabrication of IEDs,” said an investigator.

Sources say top Indian Mujahideen operatives like Riyaz and Iqbal Bhatkal used to speak to all the new recruits spotted by Yasin Bhatkal to finally induct them in the terror outfit. Yasin was also instrumental in arranging the safe escape of the Bhatkal brothers from India in early 2009.