The arrested Indian Mujahideen (IM) co-founder Yasin Bhatkal was trained by Lashkar-e-Taiba in one of its training camps in Muridke, Pakistan during 2006, according to sources.
Bhatkal told the investigators that he was introduced to military commander Riyaz Bhatkal and attended three months of advanced training - Daura-e-Khaas - for handling explosives and weapons. He was trained by Abdur Rehman and Nasar Javed, chief trainers of the Pakistan-based terrorist organisation to carry out terror attacks in India.
After the training, Bhatkal was introduced to his Pakistani handler, an ISI officer, who coordinated terror strikes with his cousins - Riyaz and Iqbal Bhatkal - based in Karachi.
He told the investigators that money to scout and recruit more terror modules in India was routed through Hawala channels. Sources said investigators have sent the laptop and mobile phone seized from Yasin Bhatkal for forensic examination.
“He targeted Darbhanga to recruit modules because it was earlier penetrated by SIMI and indoctrination was easy. He also used money to lure youth, projecting himself as a rich doctor. He had paid Rs 1 lakh to Qateel and later forced him to join in Pune blast,” sources said.
“Bhatkal, posing as Dr. Imran, had recruited three students from Darbhanga to carry out the Chinnaswamy Stadium blast in Bangalore in 2010,” they added.
Bhatkal also confessed that IM modules used to send terror emails by proxy servers to TV channels after the blasts to spread fear among the public.
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