MANGALURU: Convicted terrorist Yasin Bhatkal was produced before a JMFC court in Mangaluru via video conference on Thursday, in connection with a 2008 terror case registered at Ullal Police Station. Bhatkal is currently serving time in Delhi's Tihar jail.
On October 4, 2008, Ullal Police arrested seven alleged operatives of the banned terror outfit 'Indian Mujahideen' from Mukkacheri and Chembugudde areas, based on inputs from the District Crime Intelligence Bureau (DCIB). Six others, including Yasin Bhatkal, were absconding at the time. They were accused of conspiring to carry out terror attacks across various parts of India, and were found to own explosives and bomb-making materials.
In a 2017 verdict, the JMFC court sentenced three of the accused–Syed Mohammad Naushad, Ahmed Bava Abubakkar (33), and Fakir Ahmed alias Fakir–to life imprisonment. Four others–Mohammad Ali, Javed Ali, Mohammad Rafiq, and Shabbir Bhatkal–were acquitted by the court on April 12, 2017.
Due to Yasin Bhatkal being absconding at the time, the charges against him could not be tried. Later, he was convicted and lodged in Tihar Jail.
Mangaluru city police commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy said Yasin was never previously presented before the court in the Ullal case. Due to his absence, the trial against him remained pending for years.
After coordination between Ullal Police and Tihar Jail authorities, Yasin Bhatkal was finally produced before the court via video conference on Thursday. The next hearing has been scheduled for August 20.