Dilsukhnagar twin blasts: NIA chargesheet names Bhatkal, Akthar

Hyderabad, The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday filed charge sheet against top Indian Mujahideen operatives, Yasin Bhatkal and Asadullah Akhtar in the February 2013 twin blast case.

IM had hatched a high-level conspiracy to wage a war against India and carried out the blasts here to create terror in the minds of the people and to further the outfit's activities, according to NIA.

Eighteen persons were killed and 131 were injured in the deadly twin explosions at Dilsukhnagar here.

Investigation had produced evidence of all the financial help received by the accused from abroad through hawala route and other money transfer facilities, the charge sheet, filed before special NIA court here, says.

The conspirators had carried out a test explosion on a hillock near Abdullapurmet here prior to the blasts, it says.

Mohammed Ahmed Siddibapa alias Yasin Bhatkal and Asadullah Akhtar alias Haddi, who were arrested on the Indo-Nepal border last August, have been charged for murder and various other offences under the Indian Penal Code and Explosive Substances Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

NIA took over the case after it was initially probed by Andhra Pradesh police. After the arrest of Yasin Bhatkal and Asadullah Akhtar, NIA searched Akthar's hide-out in Mangalore and seized some materials that could be used to make explosive devices, which include ammonium nitrate, diodes, wires, timers, batteries, etc.

A total of 440 witnesses were examined, 251 documents and 300 material objects were seized as a part of the probe, the charge-sheet says. It also relied on extensive cyber forensic evidence.

Yasin's brother Riyaz Bhatkal, accused number one in the case, directed his associates Asadullah Akhtar and Waqas to find a shelter in Mangalore, to be used as a hide-out for receiving explosive materials sent by him, the NIA has said.

Riyaz directed the whole operation from Pakistan, the agency has said in the charge sheet.

After receiving the materials through an unknown person and the money sent through hawala and other channels, Akhtar and Waqas reached Hyderabad and started working with Tahseen Akhtar alias Monu (another associate).

The accused used Internet chatting for communicating with each other when the plan was in the works. They used proxy servers for chatting to hide the identity, the charge sheet says.

Accordingly, Akhtar, Waqas and Monu prepared two IEDs at a hide-out in Abdullapurmet here. On February 21, 2013, they mounted the IEDs on two bicycles and planted them near Konark and Venkatadiri theatres in Dilsukhnagar.

Riyaz, Waqas and Monu have been shown as absconding accused.

After the blasts, Akhtar and Waqas went to Bangalore. Akhtar then escaped to Nepal via Bihar and stayed with Yasin there, the NIA charge sheet says.

The role of Yasin Bhatkal, who was staying in Nepal at the time, in planning, providing advise, procurement of explosives, conspiracy, and in harbouring Akhtar in Nepal, was fully unearthed by the NIA during its investigation, the charge sheet claims.