Yasin Bhatkal demanded Rs. 17 lakh to bomb Mumbai

Yasin Bhatkal demanded Rs. 17 lakh to bomb Mumbai

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Jan 26, 2012 : According to a DNA report, ATS investigations have revealed that Bhatkal brothers Riyaz and Yasin, both members of the Indian Mujahideen (IM), had bargained heavily on payments to bomb several places in Mumbai on July 13, 2011. The IM paid Yasin only Rs. 12 lakh although he had demanded Rs. 17 lakh to launch terror attacks on three places in Mumbai.

When the bombs placed at Opera House, Dadar, and Zaveri Bazaar went off, 27 people were killed and 127 were injured. According to an ATS officer, who asked DNA to keep his name out of the report, said that the Bhatkal brothers were continuously communicating with the IM in connection with the money used on the blasts. Riyaz, who is believed to be at Karachi in Pakistan at present, sent only Rs. 12 lakh to Yasin who was in Delhi.

Sources in the police department say that the hawala operator through whom Riyaz sent the money is being watched and will be arrested soon.

Rakesh Maria, the additional direction general of police and chief of the Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS), said that investigations show that Yasin paid only Rs. 1.5 lakh to Naqi Ahmed, who helped him place the bombs. The ATS arrested Naqi this Monday.

The officer also said that Naqi spent Rs. 1 lakh to rent a room in Habib Mansion at Byculla and is believed to have spent the rest on food and travelling.

The police do not know what happened to the rest of the money, but suspect that Yasin kept it for himself.

Investigations also show that Riyaz Bhatkal used 10 percent of the salaries of his IM module members on jihad activities and on himself. Riyaz credited Rs. 26 lakhs in his bank accounts and the police found Rs. 11.4 lakh at his house in Mangalore when they raided it in 2008. The police suspect that he used the money to purchase property in Mangalore.

Haroon Naik, who was arrested by the ATS in connection with a fake money case, is believed to have played a vital role in transferring funds for the Mumbai blasts through a hawala operator in Mumbai. This hawala operator is now being watched, said the officer.