Court takes cognisance of charge sheet against Bhatkal, others

A court here Monday took cognisance of charge sheet filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) against Indian Mujahideen (IM) co-founder Yasin Bhatkal and three others for planning terror strikes in India.

The NIA charge sheeted Bhatkal, Asadullah Akhtar, Manzar Imam and U.Ahmed for their alleged role in the conspiracies of and participation in major terrorist attacks at different parts in the country.

District Judge I.S. Mehta at Patiala House court here took cognisance of first supplementary charge sheet against Bhatkal and three other and listed the matter for March 7 for further hearing.

It was the second charge sheet filed in the case, registered on Sep 10, 2012 against members of IM for carrying out terrorist activities and conspiracy for waging war against the country.

The NIA said that Bhatkal with other IM operatives were allegedly involved in major bomb blast incidents in Hyderabad (2007), Jaipur (2008), Delhi (2008), Ahmedabad and Surat (2008), German Bakery in Pune (2010), Chinnaswami Stadium, Bangalore (2010), Jama Masjid in Delhi (2010), Sheetlaghat (2010), Mumbai (2011) and Dilsukhnagar in Hyderabad (2013).

Bhatkal and Akhtar have been charged for their role in conspiracy for waging war against the country, conspiracy for terrorist acts, membership of a terrorist organisation, radicalisation and recruitment of youth into a terrorist organisation and for raising funds for the IM.

Imam and Ahmed, both hailing from Ranchi, have been charged for their role in the conspiracy to commit terrorist acts by the IM, for harbouring IM terrorists, for membership of the terrorist organisation and for giving support and raising funds for the terrorist organisation.

"Yasin Bhatkal was one of the most important member of IM who was involved in planning and execution of large number of blast cases in which more than 150 people were killed. He has very strong Jihadi mindset and involved in identifying, motivating, recruiting and training several youths in causing bomb blasts in the name of Jihad," the NIA has said.

The NIA said that Bhatkal was instrumental in developing bases in Darbhanga and Samstipur (Bihar), Ranchi, Goa and Mangalore (Karnataka).

In July 2013, the NIA had charge sheeted five cadres of IM - Mohammad Danish Ansari, Mohammad Aftab Alam, Imran Khan, Syed Maqbool and Obaid-ur-Rehman - under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Indian Penal Code for conspiracy to commit offences against the state.