Bhatkal takes credit for Hyderabad blasts in 2007, 2013

Since his arrest by security agencies for his involvement in terror strikes executed by terror group Indian Mujahideen, Mohammed Ahmed Zarar Siddibapa alias Yasin Bhatkal has reportedly confessed to his involvement in the Hyderabad blasts carried out in 2007 and 2013. The founder of the Indian Mujahideen has reportedly admitted to interrogators his involvement in the twin blasts in Dilsukhnagar in Hyderabad earlier this year which resulted in 17 deaths and over 100 injuries. Bhatkal has reportedly told interrogators that he supplied the explosives which could be planted at various locations in Hyderabad, reported the Times of India. According to an Indian Express report, Bhatkal has also admitted to his involvement in the 2007 blasts in the same city and said it was done in retaliation for the blast at the Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad which had disturbed him. [caption id=“attachment_1081395” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Was the terror suspect signalling to his associates? AFP[/caption] The blast in the masjid was allegedly carried out by a Hindu fundamentalist group and claimed the lives of 14 people. The twin blasts at Lumbini Park and Gokul Chat, which Bhatkal has reportedly taken credit for, killed 45 people. The alleged terror group founder has reportedly claimed that he had imparted training to the two persons who carried out the blasts. Training was conducted in a farmhouse in Karnataka where the operatives were shown videos on how to make explosives and bombs. The spots for the blast were reportedly picked out by his associate, Riyaz Bhatkal. While Bhatkal has reportedly taken credit for the planning of the 2007 blasts, he has blamed the 2013 blasts in the city on the orders of a Pakistani handler who is allegedly a colonel in the army. During interrogation, he had reportedly admitted that a Pakistan Army officer was in regular touch with him over phone and emails, gave him instructions and take updates on works done. The officer also sent money to Yasin through hawala channels and encouraged him to recruit more Indian youth in Indian Mujahideen through radicalisation, official sources said. However, despite his arrest and production in court, officials are reportedly worried that he is still signalling to his associates when he’s produced in court. When produced before a court in Motihari and in Delhi, Bhatkal reportedly pointed upwards when cameras were focussed on him, leading officials to believe it may be some signal to his associates, reported the Economic Times.  “When asked on this particular point, he said his gesture was to tell his cadres that he does not care about his arrest by the security agencies,” an official was quoted as saying in the report.