<p>Indian Mujahideen (IM) co-founder and one of the country’s most wanted terrorists, Yasin Bhatkal, was arrested on the Bihar-Nepal border on Thursday along with accomplice Assadullah Akthar. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Bhatkal’s arrest comes within a fortnight of the Delhi Police apprehending Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) operative Abdul Karim Tunda. <br /><br />Akthar, also known as Haddi, is an expert in configuring improvised explosive devices. They were arrested in a joint operation by the Bihar Police and the National Investigation Agency (NIA).<br /><br />Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said: “Bhatkal was traced along the Bihar-Nepal border on Wednesday night by our intelligence agencies. He is in the custody of the Bihar Police. His interrogation is going on.”<br /><br />Minister of State for Home R P N Singh said Bhatkal was a bigger menace than Tunda. “The government is committed to continue its fight against terror and we will not take rest till all such terrorists are put behind bars,” he said.<br /><br />National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon has briefed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about the arrests. <br /><br />In a statement issued in the terror mastermind’s hometown Bhatkal, his father Zarar Siddibapa said: “We are extremely relieved that Ahmed Siddibapa (Yasin Bhatkal) has been arrested, according to media reports. We are relieved because the truth will come out and our fears that he will be eliminated in a fake encounter have been laid to rest.”<br />Bhatkal’s family also affirmed their faith in the judiciary. He should be punished if found guilty, they said.<br /><br />The arrests come at a time when the Indian agencies are chasing terrorists holed up in foreign countries. In the last one year, India has managed to arrest Mumbai terror attack accused Abu Jundal, IM operative Fasih Mohammed and Simi’s Abdul Sathar, besides Tunda. <br /><br />Bhatkal, who carries a reward of Rs 15 lakh each from the Delhi and the Mumbai Police and Rs 10 lakh from the NIA, is wanted in a series of terror attacks in Ahmedabad, Surat, Bangalore, Pune, Delhi and Hyderabad.<br /><br />The NIA, which recently filed a charge sheet against Bhatkal, said he was among the “principal conspirators and executors.” Bhatkal is considered “instrumental” in motivating the youth to take up “jihad.” <br /><br />Bihar’s Additional Director General of Police (ADG-Headquarters) Ravindra Kumar said the duo were arrested in Nahar Chowk in Raxaul by a team led by Motihari SP Vinay Kumar and intelligence agency officials.<br /><br />An NIA special court on July 18, 2013, issued a non-bailable warrant against Bhatkal. Subsequently, a special team was constituted under Kumar. <br /><br />Bihar Police sources said Bhatkal was supposed to meet Riaz Bhatkal of the IM. They were slated to chalk out a strategy to unleash terror in the country during the ensuing festive season in October and November. <br /><br />Riaz, however, managed to escape to Nepal. The Bihar Police and the NIA have sought help from their Nepal counterparts to arrest Riaz. <br /><br />Bhatkal and Akthar were brought to Motihari in east Champaran and produced before the chief judicial magistrate of Motihari, who allowed transit remand of the two terrorists. Bhatkal and Haddi will be flown to New Delhi on Friday in a special aircraft. <br /><br />Yasin’s suspected involvement<br /><br />Ahmedabad blast 2008 <br />Surat 2008 <br />Jaipur 2008 <br />Delhi serial blasts 2008 <br />Dashashwamedh Ghat^ 2010 <br />Chinnaswamy Stadium# 2010 <br />German Bakery (Pune) 2011 <br />Mumbai 2011 <br />Delhi High Court 2011<br />Dilsukhnagar, H’bad 2013 <br />Bangalore 2013<br />*According to charge sheets and cases filed in various courts across the country. ^ Varanasi, # Bangalore</p>
<p>Indian Mujahideen (IM) co-founder and one of the country’s most wanted terrorists, Yasin Bhatkal, was arrested on the Bihar-Nepal border on Thursday along with accomplice Assadullah Akthar. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Bhatkal’s arrest comes within a fortnight of the Delhi Police apprehending Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) operative Abdul Karim Tunda. <br /><br />Akthar, also known as Haddi, is an expert in configuring improvised explosive devices. They were arrested in a joint operation by the Bihar Police and the National Investigation Agency (NIA).<br /><br />Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said: “Bhatkal was traced along the Bihar-Nepal border on Wednesday night by our intelligence agencies. He is in the custody of the Bihar Police. His interrogation is going on.”<br /><br />Minister of State for Home R P N Singh said Bhatkal was a bigger menace than Tunda. “The government is committed to continue its fight against terror and we will not take rest till all such terrorists are put behind bars,” he said.<br /><br />National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon has briefed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about the arrests. <br /><br />In a statement issued in the terror mastermind’s hometown Bhatkal, his father Zarar Siddibapa said: “We are extremely relieved that Ahmed Siddibapa (Yasin Bhatkal) has been arrested, according to media reports. We are relieved because the truth will come out and our fears that he will be eliminated in a fake encounter have been laid to rest.”<br />Bhatkal’s family also affirmed their faith in the judiciary. He should be punished if found guilty, they said.<br /><br />The arrests come at a time when the Indian agencies are chasing terrorists holed up in foreign countries. In the last one year, India has managed to arrest Mumbai terror attack accused Abu Jundal, IM operative Fasih Mohammed and Simi’s Abdul Sathar, besides Tunda. <br /><br />Bhatkal, who carries a reward of Rs 15 lakh each from the Delhi and the Mumbai Police and Rs 10 lakh from the NIA, is wanted in a series of terror attacks in Ahmedabad, Surat, Bangalore, Pune, Delhi and Hyderabad.<br /><br />The NIA, which recently filed a charge sheet against Bhatkal, said he was among the “principal conspirators and executors.” Bhatkal is considered “instrumental” in motivating the youth to take up “jihad.” <br /><br />Bihar’s Additional Director General of Police (ADG-Headquarters) Ravindra Kumar said the duo were arrested in Nahar Chowk in Raxaul by a team led by Motihari SP Vinay Kumar and intelligence agency officials.<br /><br />An NIA special court on July 18, 2013, issued a non-bailable warrant against Bhatkal. Subsequently, a special team was constituted under Kumar. <br /><br />Bihar Police sources said Bhatkal was supposed to meet Riaz Bhatkal of the IM. They were slated to chalk out a strategy to unleash terror in the country during the ensuing festive season in October and November. <br /><br />Riaz, however, managed to escape to Nepal. The Bihar Police and the NIA have sought help from their Nepal counterparts to arrest Riaz. <br /><br />Bhatkal and Akthar were brought to Motihari in east Champaran and produced before the chief judicial magistrate of Motihari, who allowed transit remand of the two terrorists. Bhatkal and Haddi will be flown to New Delhi on Friday in a special aircraft. <br /><br />Yasin’s suspected involvement<br /><br />Ahmedabad blast 2008 <br />Surat 2008 <br />Jaipur 2008 <br />Delhi serial blasts 2008 <br />Dashashwamedh Ghat^ 2010 <br />Chinnaswamy Stadium# 2010 <br />German Bakery (Pune) 2011 <br />Mumbai 2011 <br />Delhi High Court 2011<br />Dilsukhnagar, H’bad 2013 <br />Bangalore 2013<br />*According to charge sheets and cases filed in various courts across the country. ^ Varanasi, # Bangalore</p>
