Planted bombs in Pune, Delhi, Bangalore: Yasin Bhatkal

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Feb 25, 2014: Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal had planted IEDs at German Bakery in Pune and Bangalore’s Chinnaswamy Stadium and provided explosives for 2008 Delhi serial blasts, he confessed before a magistrate.

In his confessional statement recorded under section 164 of the CrPC in October last year, Bhatkal said that the May 2008 serial blasts at Jaipur were carried out to "test" the capacity of improvised explosive device (IEDs) prepared by him. He also said he was inspired by a Hollywood movie in preparing IEDs.

The statement has been filed in a Delhi court by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) along with its charge sheet against Bhatkal and three others.

Bhatkal, who in 2001 had started the business of garments and perfume, also confessed that he had prepared IEDs for the July 26, 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts in which 21 bombs had exploded killing over 50 people.

"We (Yasin and his associates) accordingly blasted at German Bakery, Pune on February 13, 2010 and we all did these activities at the instructions of Bhatkal brothers (Riyaz and Iqbal). Thereafter, I planted five IEDs on April 16, 2010 at Chinnaswamy stadium, Bangalore," Bhatkal told the magistrate.

"On September 19, 2010 on the day of anniversary of Batla encounter, I along with... planted bombs at Jama Masjid area, Delhi. I planted IEDs," he said.

Regarding his role in July 2011 serial blasts at Mumbai’s Zaveri Bazaar and Opera House, Bhatkal said he had himself planted two IEDs there. Over 20 people were killed and 125 injured in the serial blasts.

He said that September 13, 2008, Delhi serial blasts was carried out by the members of IM’s Azamgarh group and he had provided 10 IEDs for the strikes.

"Riyaz Bhatkal (co-founder of IM) and Azamgarh group are responsible for said serial bomb blast that took place at Delhi. I have no role at all in the said blasting except supplying 10 IEDs," he told the magistrate.

Bhatkal told the magistrate that after 2008, when most of the active members of IM were arrested by police in Delhi, Mumbai and Pune, he remained "silent" for a year.

Regarding the series of blasts in July 2006 in Mumbai’s local trains, Bhatkal said he had "no knowledge and acquaintance with culprits of Mumbai train blasts".

On July 11, 2006, seven bombs exploded in Mumbai’s local train in which over 175 people were killed and over 700 injured.

He told the magistrate that after undergoing training for using arms and ammunition in Pakistan, Riyaz Bhatkal advised him to got to Sharjah to met the members of al Qaeda.

NIA had recently filed its second charge sheet against Bhatkal, his aide Asadullah Akhtar and two other suspected operatives of the banned terror group in connection with a case of alleged conspiracy to carry out terror acts in the country.

The court had yesterday taken cognisance of the 277-page supplementary charge sheet and had fixed the matter for March 7 for further proceedings.