Follow Us on Google News
Delhi’s NIA Court has ordered the framing of charges against Yasin Bhatkal, co-founder of the Indian Mujahideen (IM), and 10 of its operatives.
The accused have been charged with entering into a criminal conspiracy to wage war against India and being members of the banned terrorist organization.
Special NIA Judge Shailender Malik, in an order passed on March 31, ordered the framing of charges against Bhatkal and others, citing enough evidence to put the accused on trial.
However, the court discharged three of the accused, as there was no sufficient direct evidence for proving the charges against them.
The charges are related to the allegation that Indian Mujahideen functionaries undertook large-scale recruitment and induction of new members for the commission of terrorist activities in various parts of India.
The organization received regular funds for their terrorist activities, and the group’s operatives and its frontal organizations have been found to be involved in several bomb blasts at prominent places in India, especially in Delhi.
During the investigation, it was ascertained that Mohammad Danish Ansari was recruited and indoctrinated by Bhatkal with the assistance of Tahseen Akhtar and Kafeel Akhtar.
After being inducted in the IM, Ansari regularly visited the hideouts of the IM located at Sara – Mohanpur, Darbhanga. He had closely worked with Bhatkal and met several other IM operatives at the hide-outs of IM at Sara Mohanpur, Darbhanga.
Indian Mujahideen is a terrorist organization formed around the end of the year 2003. A group of ultra-radicalized Muslim youths including Iqbal Bhatkal, Riyaz Bhatkal, Mohd Siddibappa Zarrar alias Yasin Bhatkal, who was associated earlier with another banned terrorist organization Student Islamic Movement of India, segregated themselves in the aftermath of communal mobilization following Babri Masjid‘s demolition and Godhra riots.
They formed a new terrorist organization called Indian Mujahideen to carry out terrorist attacks in different parts of India to wage war against the Government of India.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is investigating a criminal case registered against the terrorist activities of the Indian Mujahideen under Sections 121A and 123 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and under Sections 17, 18, 18B, and 20 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
The organization was banned as a terrorist organization on June 22, 2009.