Yasin Bhatkal Convicted In Dilsukhnagar Bomb Blast

Five operatives of the terrorist group Indian Mujahideen, including its founder Yasin Bhatkal, accused of conspiring the 2013 Dilsukhnagar bomb blasts in Hyderabad which killed 18 persons and left 131 critically injured, were produced in a fast track court in Chanchalguda today by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), and proven guilty by the Prosecution on one charge of terrorism and three counts each of sedition, murder, and conspiracy against the nation.

As per reports, the NIA produced strong evidence against the five - Yasin Bhatkal, Asadullah Akhtar, Zia-ur-Rahman, Tahseen Akhtar and Riyaz Bhatkal - to substantiate the claim that the 5 had indeed carried out a reconnaissance mission in February 2013, at two places in Dilsukhnagar, killing and injuring several.

It was also argued in court that Asadullah Akhtar, Zia-ur-Rahman and Tahseen Akthar had carried out the terror attack, while Yasin Bhatkal (Indian Mujahideen founder, operating from Nepal) in tandem with Riyaz Bhatkal (from another location abroad) had orchestrated the twin bombings by guiding the three operatives.

The documented evidence included forensic results, tracked coordinates, tapped voice calls, explosive materials and finger prints on them, several weapons recovered from the site of the attack, satellite phones, mobile phones and sim cards among other things.

The Defense, too, made its case and claimed that the 5 including Yasin Bhatkal were innocent and were being framed by the NIA. This however didn't sit well with the Jury as the claim apparently lacked substantiation, and dismissed the plea. The Judge, upon reviewing all evidence produced by the NIA and the Hyderabad Police, adjudged the five culpable of all registered counts of terrorism, murder and sedition.

For those who came in late, back in 2013, the NIA and NSG had produced the five operatives in the Chanchalguda court, but the proceedings were postponed citing lack of sufficient evidence. Earlier in 2016, the NIA had claimed that it now had sufficient evidence to prove that the five were indeed terrorists working for the IM and were behind the twin blasts in Dilsukhnagar. The court heard the petition and agreed for a hearing on December 13.

The bereaved kin of the victims, and several political parties including the Telangana BJP's youth wing demanded that the court sentence Yasin Bhatkal and the rest to death. In order to make their voices heard, the youth wing and several of the victims' kin organized a protest outside the Cherlapally police station (where the accused were held before being transferred to the Chanchalguda) and tried to storm it, only to be stopped by the police.

They shouted slogans demanding justice, against terrorism and praising the nation and exhorting the justice system. They also opined that it would be grave injustice if anything less than passing through the Noose were to be handed over as a Sentence for the crime against humanity.

India awaits the sentencing of dreaded IM founder Yasin Bhatkal and the rest who were involved in the carnage of several innocent civilians. The Sentence will be decided by the court on December 19 or 21, whichever fits its schedule.