New Delhi:
Indian Mujahideen (IM) co-founder Yasin Bhatkal was inspired by Al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden and showed his videos to young men to motivate them to sacrifice their lives in the name of 'jihad', according to the chargesheet filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA)
.
Here are excerpts from the chargesheet which was filed in a Delhi court:
1) Internet chat about fidayeen (suicide) attack at Sabarmati Jail:
(During a chat on July 18, 2013, Asadullah Akhtar, arrested last year alongwith Yasin Bhatkal, and Mirza Shadaab Baig, one of the top IM leaders based in Karachi in Pakistan, discussed about carrying out a strike at the Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad in Gujarat - one of the targets in their terror plans.)Akhtar: "I was thinking let's change the pattern and do something bigger. I thought if we need to do depo (suicide attack, also known as
fidayeen attack) then what better place than Gujarat."
Mirza: "Yaar, everyone would need guns also"
Mirza told Akhtar that to execute the plans, five daring ones were needed with the arms. Akhtar told him that all he needed was inside information from within the jail. Mirza was asked not to do
fidayeen for this work as their motto was to get their brothers out using the technique (sic).
2) Internet chat on attacking cops:During a chat between Mirza Shadaab Baig and Asadullah Akhtar on 18th July 2013, he asked Asadullah... that now they should focus on attacking the police (
mamu). They talked about change in attack pattern from doing explosions to direct firing (sic).
Mirza said: "I was saying let's change the job pattern now. Now it is the turn of those
mamu log (cops). There should be big damage."
3) Yasin Bhatkal's plan to kidnap a wealthy Indian businessmen:Investigation has established that during the stay of Yasin in Nepal, Riyaz had also suggested kidnapping of Jews as a bargain to set free one Dr Aafia Siddiquie, imprisoned by the USA. A plan for kidnapping some rich Indian businessman was also discussed. They planned to acquire arms and a hideout to execute the kidnapping.
4) Aid from Maoists in Nepal:During a chat with Riyaz on 1st June 2013, Yasin said he had planned for kidnapping if he got the arms. He said that he could meet the Maoists still. Riyaz told him that there, much supply and assistance was received from the Maoists (sic).
5) Reference to an Indian film which spoke about terrorists:During the chat of A 6 (code name for Yasin Bhatkal) with Riyaz Bhatkal on the 26th march 2013, Yasin told Riyaz that Asadullah Akhtar had shown the movie 'Vishwaroopam' yesterday to him and they discussed that in the beginning and the end of the movie talked about the arrival of Al Qaeda in India which was going to be true (sic).
6) Yasin Bhatkal motivated young recruits by showing them videos of Osama:Yasin Bhatkal stated that he used to motivate young Muslim boys by narrating them stories of Muslim fighters who had done Jihad against non-Muslims in the past. He used to quote selected phrases from Islamic religious books in support of 'Jihad' (sic).
He downloaded lectures of Muslim leaders and fighters like Osama bin Laden, A Yazeed, Al Zarqawi, C Khateeb, Awlaqi from Internet. He made young Muslim boys watch these videos and read over these documents to them, so as to motivate them for sacrificing their lives in the name of 'Jihad' (sic).
7)Sympathy for Ajmal Kasab and Afzal Guru:During Yasin Bhatkal's chat with Riyaz on 21st Nov 2012, there was reference about sadness due to the hanging of Ajmal Amir Kasab, who was convicted in the case of terrorist attacks at Mumbai on 26th November 2008. Riyaz mentioned to the accused (Yasin) that they were planning to hold
Namaaz-e-Janaza in the honour of the deceased.
During Yasin Bhatkal's chat with Riyaz on 11th February 2013, Yasin asked about the response of the hanging of Afzal Guru in Pakistan... Yasin felt very sad about the execution... however, Riyaz told him there was not much response in Pakistan. Yasin told him a new
Tehreek (terrorist group) would start in Kashmir due to execution of Guru (sic).
8) Indian Mujahideen's relationship souring with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI):During chat of Yasin Bhatkal with Riyaz on the 15th of April 2013 Riyaz stated there was no compulsion about staying in Pakistan but that the future settling would have to be done properly. He mentioned that after the Mumbai blasts (13/7/2011) the ISI had taken them and almost arrested them. They had taken all mobiles and other devices with them.
During another chat between Yasin Bhatkal and Afeef (another IM operative) on 9th July 2013, Afeef Shafi stated that the ISI had called all of them to verification and they were questioned like accused persons. The ISI stated that they had given 60 lakhs within three months for personal expenses to members of IM staying in Pakistan and asked about the complete details of expenditure. It was mentioned that totally they (ISI) had given Rs 25 crores for personal expenses of IM members till date apart from expenses for operational work. ISI asked complete details of money expenditure from Iqbal Bhatkal. (sic)
9) Recce of Akshardham Temple in Delhi:Files recovered from Yasin's laptop include photos of Akshardham temple revealing that the accused went there for the purpose of recce. (sic)
10) Internal split of Indian Mujahideen:During a chat of Yasin Bhatkal with Riyaz on 13th May 2013, Riyaz mentioned that Iqbal's position was in trouble due to his marriage, since his new wife was quite modern and did not wear purdah. Due to his marriage (several IM operatives) refused to acknowledge Iqbal as their Amir (chief). (sic)