Author: Times News Network
Publication: The Times of India
Date: January 3, 2012

Sleuths Believe He Was In City During 13/7 Strikes

Investigators are working on inputs indicating that the Indian Mujahideen (IM) module led by Yasin Bhatkal, which was busted recently, may have been involved in the Mumbai blasts of July 13, 2011.

Mohammed Ahmed Sidibapa alias Yasin Bhatkal alias Shahrukh, who led the IM module, may have been in Mumbai during the blasts, investigators believe. Among the reasons to suspect his presence in Mumbai is the statement of a recently arrested IM member.

In a nationwide investigation, police forces, supported by intelligence agencies, had arrested seven IM members. Yasin, believed to be heading this module, managed to escape. Investigators also found that Yasin, who is related to brothers Riyaz and Iqbal Bhatkal, was living in Delhi until recently. Riyaz and Iqbal are now believed to be in Karachi.
   
Initial investigations showed that the Yasin-led IM module was behind the German Bakery bombing in Pune, the blast in Chinnaswami Stadium in Bangalore and the firing on foreign tourists near Jama Masjid in Delhi ahead of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
   
Now, there are fresh leads on the Mumbai blasts, sources said. Investigators are believed to be in possession of a cellphone, recovered from a Chennai hideout of IM operatives. It is, however, yet not clear if this phone was personally used by Yasin.

Sources said their efforts to reconstruct Yasin’s movements in the run-up to and during the Mumbai blasts are also leading them to believe that the IM module chief may have been in the city at the time.
   
At least one associate told them during interrogation about Yasin’s absence from his Delhi hideout during the Mumbai blast.
   
Investigators are cautiously pursuing leads as they do not want to make a mistake that can let the real culprits get away.