Indian security agencies have arrested India’s most wanted men and head of the militant outfit Indian Mujahideen Yasin Bhatkal from India-Nepal border.
New Delhi, Aug 29/Nationalturk – In a major breakthrough, Indian security agencies have arrested India’s most wanted men and head of the militant outfit Indian Mujahideen Yasin Bhatkal.
“Yasin Bhatkal was arrested last night. He is with the police of Bihar (Indian state) and is being interrogated by a team of top police officials,” Indian Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde told reporters, here today.
Police sources said 30-year-old Bhatkal was allegedly caught near India-Nepal border in Bihar after a tip-off from the FBI to India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA).
They said Bhatkal was wanted by Indian security agencies for many bomb blasts in India including 2011 blasts in Delhi High Court, blasts in Indian cities of Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune and Hyderabad.
‘Bhatkal was involved in many bomb blasts in India’
Police sources said country’s intelligence agencies believe that in 2010, Bhatkal planted bomb at the German Bakery in Pune, killing 17 people. He was reportedly seen on CCTV footage of the bakery, wearing a cap to cover his face.
“Bhaktal was co-founder of militant group Indian Mujahideen and key conspirator and recruiter for the outfit. He founded the Indian Mujahideen in 2008 with his borther Riyaz Bhatkal and Abdul Subhan Qureshi,” they said adding his arrest will lead to further arrests and weakening of militant outfit Indian Mujahideen.
They said Bhatkal belongs to Indian state of Karnataka and is well-educated (engineering graduate).
Sources said another Indian Mujahideen leader Akhtar was reportedly picked up along with 30-year-old Bhatkal. However, this could not be confirmed from independent sources yet.
Bhatkal carried a reward of Rupees 10 lakhs (Indian currency) on his head.
Indian security analysts said Indian Mujahideen is a network of home-grown militant groups in Indian. “It, however, has links with Pakistan based militant groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed,” they said.
Bhatkal’s arrest is second success for Indian security forces in this month. Earlier, this month they had arrested alleged top militant of Lashkar-e-Toiba Abdul Karim Tunda. The 70-year-old Tunda, who is said to be explosive expert, was also arrested near the Nepal border.
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Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk India News
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