Jama Masjid attack: IM's Yasin Bhatkal refused bail

New Delhi: Terror outfit Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal was today refused bail by a Delhi court in connection with September 2010 Jama Masjid terror attack case in which an explosion had taken place outside the mosque.

Additional Sessions Judge Daya Prakash dismissed the bail plea of Bhatkal while allowing the application of Delhi Police seeking 15 days time to conclude their ongoing probe against the IM’s Indian chief and his aide Asadullah Akhtar in the case.

The special cell of Delhi Police moved the plea saying they need more time to complete their probe as Pakistani national Zia-ur-Rehman alias Waqas, arrested recently, was yet to be quizzed in connection with the 19 September, 2010 Jama Masjid attack.

It also said top IM operatives Riyaz Bhatkal, Iqbal Bhatkal and Amir Reza Khan, who are based in Pakistan and had played key roles in the terror strikes across India, were yet to be arrested.

Advocate M S Khan, who appeared for Bhatkal, sought bail on the ground that police have not filed charge sheet against his client even after completion of statutory period of 90 days from the date of Bhatkal’s arrest in the case.

The court, however, dismissed the bail plea and directed the special cell to complete their probe against Bhatkal and Akhtar by 8 May.

The police had recently filed a supplementary charge sheet against Bhatkal and Akhtar in a separate case relating to Jama Masjid firing incident in which two Taiwanese tourists had sustained bullet injuries on 19 September, 2010.

The police had said two bikers had fired at tourists atgate number three of Jama Masjid in Old Delhi area and Taiwanese, Ku-Ze-Wei and Ko-chiange, were injured.

It had also said a bomb fitted in a stolen car parked in the area had caused a mild explosion.

The police had filed its charge sheet against Bhatkal and Akhtar under various sections of the IPC including 307(attempt to murder), 120B(criminal conspiracy) and under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Arms Act.

It claimed Bhatkal was instructed by Pakistan-based handlers to carry out terror attacks just before the beginning of 2010 Commonwealth Games (CWG) held in Delhi.

Bhatkal and Akhtar were arrested by National Investigation Agency (NIA) from Indo-Nepal border on the night of August 28 last year.

PTI